COLUMBUS, OH - Law enforcement officers at selected state parks will again encourage heightened roadway safety awareness and promote seat belt and proper child restraint use this summer through the "Parks Safe" program, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Whats Holding You Back? is the theme for this year's observance, part of a statewide effort to increase roadway patrols during busy holiday periods and encourage motorists to buckle up.
A grant of more than $66,000 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety will help state park officers increase their patrol efforts and raise public awareness of state laws regarding speed, seat belt and proper child restraint use, and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The overall goals of the statewide program are to reduce the rate of crashes and the instances of death and personal injury.
Since our state parks are such popular destinations for summer travelers, it makes sense that we are part of this statewide effort, said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. The same good driving habits that make for safe highways - like watching your speed and buckling up - make for safer parks for families enjoying Ohio's great outdoors.
In addition to patrols on the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends, three unstaffed speed-alert trailers will be used at several locations to remind motorists to watch their speeds in areas where pedestrians and bicyclists may be sharing park roads.
The following Ohio State Parks are participating: Alum Creek in Delaware County, Buck Creek in Clark County, Caesar Creek in Warren and Clinton counties, Cleveland Lakefront in Cuyahoga County, East Fork in Clermont County, Geneva in Ashtabula County, Hueston Woods in Preble and Butler counties, Lake Milton in Mahoning County, Maumee Bay in Lucas County, Mohican in Ashland County, Mosquito Lake in Trumbull County, Portage Lakes in Summit County, Pymatuning in Ashtabula County, and Shawnee in Scioto County.