Ohio Task Force Recommends Changes to Emergency-Service Partnerships at State Parks
Governor Mike DeWine’s administration has released seven recommendations aimed at improving how Ohio handles partnerships with local emergency services within its state park system. This initiative follows Governor DeWine's veto of a budget measure a year ago that would have mandated state reimbursement for local emergency services responding to calls at South Bass Island State Park. Following the veto, Governor DeWine convened a task force to study these partnerships statewide, acknowledging that cities and towns hosting state parks often experience increased emergency calls due to visitor numbers. Currently, only 188 officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) patrol 76 state parks, forests, and waterways, necessitating contracts with local agencies for additional support. Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, noted that some smaller communities face high demand with limited resources. 
