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May
13
Written by:
news editor
5/13/2011 1:00 AM
A team of employees from Grand Lake St. Marys State Park received the state park system’s 2010 “Gazelle Award.”
COLUMBUS, OH – A team of employees from Grand Lake St. Marys State Park received the state park system’s 2010 “Gazelle Award,” according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
The Gazelle Award honors park managers and staff who demonstrate the ability to respond quickly and skillfully under difficult or urgent circumstances. When cyanobacteria from algae blooms was detected in Grand Lake St. Marys last summer, the park staff mobilized quickly to determine the public health threat and provide information to park visitors and the local community. The park also worked with local businesses to soften the impact on the area’s vibrant tourism industry, and opened a dialogue with local landowners to address the sources of nutrients in the watershed that contribute to the algae blooms.
“The issues facing Grand Lake St. Marys are serious, and we are working diligently with a number of partners to solve this difficult problem,” said David Payne, chief of Ohio State Parks, in presenting the award. “The Grand Lake St. Marys park staff has done a great job of involving the local community in the solution, and keeping the emphasis on visitor safety.”
Grand Lake St. Marys sprawls across 13,500 acres in Mercer and Auglaize counties. In addition to boating, swimming and fishing facilities, the park offers a 204-site campground with electrical hookups and getaway rentals, a dog park, and picnic areas with shelters that may be reserved. The regular rates for camping, getaway rentals, picnic shelter rentals, and seasonal state dock rentals are discounted by 50% through September 1. Campsites and picnic shelters can be reserved by calling 1-866-OHIOPARKS or on-line at www.ohiostateparks.org.
The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at ohiodnr.com.
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For more information, contact:
Jean Backs, ODNR Ohio State Parks
614. 265. 7077
Jason Fallon, ODNR Office of Communications
614. 265. 6842
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