On Sunday, there were few open parking spaces to enjoy open space in Jefferson County.
Rangers across the park system agreed, Sunday was likely the busiest day ever.
"Parking lots weren’t really freeing up until almost after 2:30, 3:00 o’clock," said Mary Ann Bonnell, ranger and visitor services manager for Jefferson County Open Space.
Bonnell was working at White Ranch East Trailhead Sunday and had to turn away cars until spaces started opening up in the parking lot.
“That parking lot was not only fully parked, but there were probably 15 people that were parked in some of the most creative spaces I could have ever come up with," Bonnell said.
Bonnell has been working as a ranger and naturalist in the Denver metro area since 1994. She never planned to work through a global pandemic.
“I think what we’re experiencing is collateral around this pandemic and that people for, I think very valid reasons, want to get outside and feed their soul and feed their brain and have something positive," she said. "Nature, obviously, does that for many of us.”
Bonnell passed along a few recommendations for people who want to use JeffCo Open Space during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recreate close to home
Bonnell: “Be respectful of each other. Be respectful of the state orders. Recreate as close as you can to home. You may have to get in a car to do it, but don’t go far."
Avoid peak times between 10:00 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Bonnell: “If you can come before 9:00 a.m. even and finish your visit before 9:00 or come after 3:00 and enjoy that wonderful evening visit.”
Wear a mask and keep your social distance
Bonnell: “If there’s a safe spot for you to even move off the trail slightly, that’s going to give you even more space, and be sure you’re covering your face as people are walking past you.”
Carry hand sanitizer or your own "hand-washing station."
Bonnell: “Be sure you’ve got hand-washing supplies with you. I’ve now got a portable hand-washing station and I use it frequently throughout the day.”
Bonnell carries a small water bladder and hand soap in her pack every day.
Be patient with staff cleaning public bathrooms
Bonnell: “Cleaning a restroom has its own level of anxiety, but in this state, we’re being extra careful about our PPE. We’re using the best products we can find."
“You really want that restroom to be clean. I promise you. You really do.”
Keep your dog on a leash
Bonnell: "We are taking the off-leash dog thing very seriously. We always do. But right now, with an off-leash dog running up to another family, that can be just another means to close that important distancing, and so we're really making sure everybody's dog is on-leash."
Thank a ranger who's working through a pandemic
Bonnell: “We’re very happy to be thanked and we’re very happy to be part of what’s helping people feel like things can be normal.”
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