COLUMBUS, OH - With the arrival of hot, sunny weather, Ohio State Parks remind adult visitors to keep an eye on the young ones while enjoying a day at the beach. This is the focus of SwimSafe!, an annual beach safety program coordinated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Safety is an important part of a successful family outing to our state parks," said Dan West, Ohio State Parks chief. "Our SwimSafe! program is a reminder that in addition to packing lotions, beach toys and snacks, parents and adult guardians should take a high level of awareness along on any outing to the beach."
Ohio State Parks offer 68 beaches on 47 inland lakes in addition to 10 beaches on Lake Erie. Last year, more than 6 million people visited state park beaches across Ohio. SwimSafe! was created in 2000 to stem the growing number of swimming fatalities at state park beaches. Since the program was initiated, only three people have drowned at state park beaches - a significant decrease from the late 1990s.
Ohio's 74 award-winning state parks feature more than 500 family cottages, 57 family campgrounds with more than 9,000 campsites, and eight full-service resort lodges.