KATIE LOFTON
Scioto Audubon Park Technician
At Scioto Audubon in the winter, we are able to tackle unique maintenance needs to be sure we continue operating clean, safe parks for our visitors. In addition to the typical list of weekly park cleanings, brush hogging prairies, vehicle maintenance, and office projects that were put off during the busy season, we also get to set our sights on some more interesting issues that may not be quite as obvious to the typical visitor.
During the summer, we offer free use of our 35-foot-high rock wall during park hours (and, sometimes, during extended hours, late-night climbs!) The rock wall structure has a fiberglass “rock” face and is supported by steel beams on the inside. The climbing holds are all held on by exterior bolts with interior nuts to tighten them down. In order to accomplish this, periodic maintenance days are scheduled for the Scioto Audubon ranger and maintenance staff throughout the year. In the summer, the focus remains more on the holds being tight enough to support weight, and removing dangerous insect hives from inside the wall.
In winter, however, the repairs are able to be more intensive due to outdoor climbers not being as active in the colder months. Some of these repairs, such as tightening holds, require a climber on the exterior of the wall while a few workers climb the interior to cut off bolts or make other necessary changes to the fiberglass or supports. We try to save most of our interior-wall work for winter, because during summer, the inside of the wall gets extremely hot, especially with a climbing harness and helmet on! While it can be very cold inside the wall in winter, touching all that metal, at least you are protected from the harsh winds!
On beautiful, sunny winter days (and even on cold, rainy ones, too!) the Scioto Audubon dog park can get packed! Dog parents from all over downtown Columbus are always itching to get their dogs and themselves some fresh air on a rare “nice” winter day. Some owners can even be seen here on bad weather days, braving snow, ice and rain to get a couple rounds of fetch in. During the warmer months, we keep three water coolers stocked for keeping the dogs hydrated. At some point, we are hoping to have a running water line going to the dog park with a dog fountain, so we’ll have one less thing to worry about!
We also struggle with tree and debris buildup at the dam and our boat ramp on the Scioto River. This is due to many things, such as litter from the highways and the upstream river floating in, plus all of the trees lining the river lose limbs, etc, and they get caught at the dam. This is an issue because it inhibits the flow of the river in this area, in addition to blocking boaters and fishermen from using our boat ramp and fishing docks effectively. This past winter, the blockage got so bad we had to enlist the help of other agencies to clear the big trees and branches in the water. At the boat ramp itself, we are typically able to reach the debris and remove it ourselves, but past the fishing platforms, the bank is too steep to reach anything from land.
Aint dams bad for rivers why not remove it it’s been proven to be horrible for rivers especially bigger dams plus stops fish from moving up stream like paddlefish and boats and kayaks
Yes, dams can create a wide, flat waterway with a habitat similar to lakes and their removal allows for better, healthier waterways and river fish habitat. Unfortunately, many of the dams in our area hold utility pipes making their removal a very large, expensive project. The Greenlawn Dam south of Scioto Audubon Metro Park holds a 9-foot diameter sewer pipe. It has been estimated to cost $150 million to remove the dam, bury 2-miles of pipe and install pump and screening stations. Thankfully, many dams in central Ohio have been removed when possible.