U.S. Department of the Interior and GRIST National Recreation May/June 1982 and Park Association Volume 26/Number 3

Serving Handicapped Visitors

Helping to provide safe and en­ joyable experiences to handicapped persons at beaches is an important step in mainstreaming the disabled in our society. One method of pro­ viding these experiences is to train lifeguards in the supervision and rescue of handicapped swimmers. Richard D. Baker, chief lifeguard at Assateague Island National Seashore (MD-VA) suggests establishing such a lifeguard train­ ing program and he refers us to the American Red Cross publication Adapted Aquatics as a training text. Baker also recommends publi­ cizing the lifeguard services and recreation program accessibility so that this information is available to all. He suggests publishing a brochure as part of Assateague Island's water safety recreation use program which highlights this information. The brochure would state. . .

"All lifeguards receive training in first aid, CPR, lifesaving and beach supervision. They are also trained to supervise main- streamed handicapped visitors and to handle them in emergencies. "Groups with members who share characteristics that are special problems in aquatic recreation may want to use the protected beach and integrate their group with the general public. Group leaders should consult with a supervisory lifeguard concerning group characteristics such as non- swimmers, poor swimmers, or disabilities, before letting their group go into the water. (continued on p. 19)

17 Safety

Grist Increasing Vehicle Stairway Safety A publication of the Park Practice Program Visibility The Park Practice Program is a cooperative effort of Doyal Glenn Jackson, maintenance the National Park Service and the National Recreation work leader at the Ozark National and Park Association. Making vehicles more visible at night is an effective method of Scenic Riverways (MO) came up Russell E. Dickenson, Director reducing accidents and injuries. with this idea to make the lumber National Park Service Park Ranger Dale Edward Silvis stairway tread surface within the Maintenance Shop safer to walk John H. Davis, Executive Director of Cuyahoga Valley National National Recreation and Park Association Recreation Area (OH) suggests upon. Jackson suggests warming clean, Editorial Staff using Scotchguard or other brand of reflectorized tape to improve and sharp sand and applying it to National Park Service increase visibility of government- freshly painted stairway, while the U.S. Department of the Interior paint is still wet. After this is dry, Branch of Professional Publications owned vehicles during night-time Division of Cooperative Activities operation. apply a second coat of paint over the sand and allow to dry. Frank C. Goodell, Program Manager The tape can be applied to the exterior of all park vehicles and can This sand and paint mixture James A. Burnett, Editor, Design and Grist also be applied to the inside of prevents slipping where there are up-down tread surfaces and when Kathleen A. Pleasant, Editor, Trends and Writer, doors, the inside of the trunks of Grist and Design automobiles, and the underside of the surface is wet (except during periods of ice and snow cover). NRPA Printing Staff vehicle hoods. Silvis states that the reflectorized tape even enhances law A $100 National Park Service Albert H. Ziegenfuss, Manager enforcement vehicles which are incentive award was presented to Jackson for his suggestion. The Park Practice Program includes: Trends, a already equipped with light bars quarterly publication on topics of special interest in and other safety equipment. The park and recreation management and programming; tape is of particular use when Grist, a bimonthly publication on practical solutions to everyday problems in park and recreation opera­ retrieving equipment from car Shower Facilities tions; and Design, a quarterly compendium of plans trunks at night and when vehicle for park and recreation structures which demonstrates operators are in public contact on quality design and intelligent use of materials. Maintenance employees are often ex­ the side of the road. posed to unsanitary conditions, con­ Membership in the Park Practice Program includes a taminants and substances such as subscription to all three publications and selected back Reflectorized tape can be issues in vinyl binders with indices and all publica­ purchased in many colors to match gasoline, acids and chemicals which tions for the calendar year. the color of the vehicles and can be could cause serious problems if not washed off within a reasonable period The initial membership fee is $80; annual renewal is applied in strips to achieve $20. A separate subscription to Grist is $15 initially, maximum effect and visibility. of time. and $7.50 upon renewal. Subscription applications Silvis was presented a $200 Sharon Fletcher, supply clerk at and fees, and membership inquiries should be sent only to: National Recreation and Park Association, National Park Service incentive Cumberland Gap National Historical 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. award for his suggestion. Park (KY, VA, TN) recommended the installation of shower facilities at the The information presented in any of the publications of the Park Practice Program does not reflect an en­ maintenance department for emergency, dorsement by the agencies sponsoring the program or hazardous type situations and as a by the editors. preventive measure against disease. Articles, suggestions, ideas and comments are invited Fletcher was presented a $50 Na­ and should be sent to the Park Practice Program, tional Park Service incentive award Division of Cooperative Activities, National Park Ser­ vice, Washington, D.C. 20240. for her suggestion.

For Safety's Sake

All ideas and suggestions shared in the pages of Grist are presented as guidelines, not final working blue­ prints. Be sure to check any device or plan you want to adopt for compliance with national, state and local safety codes. 18 Visitors Fee Booth Sign Handicapped. . .(continued from p. 17) Park Technician Gordon Wilson sug­ "A ramp goes from the handi­ Considered gested posting additional information capped parking area at the north at the entrance station's fee booth at end of the main parking lot to Castillo de San Marcos National the beach just north of the Monument (FL) that would be most lifeguard-supervised beach. welcome to senior citizens. Disabled visitors may need assistance to move into the pro­ U.S. Senior Citizens tected area." FREE ADMISSION Baker feels that public service Pass Available Here will be improved through increasing program accessibility. Expanded Parks in the An existing sign stated that children lifeguard training will prevent under 16 years of age were admitted accidents and result in more emer­ C&P Area free of charge. Wilson's suggestion fur­ gency service for all visitors. Also, Information about your local park nished the additional information that the existence of the Red Cross text, area is close at hand. Jackie Clin­ U.S. residents who are 62 years or Adapted Aquatics, makes it pos­ ton, secretary in the National Park older are entitled to free admission if sible for any organization to Service's Division of Natural they possess a Golden Age Passport, immediately incorporate knowledge Science shares this page from a and that passports are available at the about handicapped swimming into 1980 Northern Chesapeake entrance station. its training program. & Potomac telephone directory A $25 National Park Service incen­ Baker was presented a $50 (Washington, DC metropolitan tive award was presented to Wilson National Park Service incentive area). for his suggestion. award for his suggestion. A map of Virginia, , West Virginia and the District of Columbia is numbered to pinpoint locations of the state parks within the area. The names of the parks, telephone numbers, and services available are described beside the corresponding numbers. National park areas within the D.C. area are also listed.

Parks in the C&P Area

District of Columbia West Potomac Park: ball- 8. Gunpowder Falls State 18. Grayson Highlands 35. Babcock State Park: fields, fish, ice skate, swan Park: camp, picnic, fish State Park: camp. hike. New River Canyon, operat­ Dial-A-Park 202/426-6975. boat Pedalboats rowboats. boat ramp, horseback rid­ picnic, visitor center 703/ ing gristmill, campsites, Information 202/426-6700. canoes for hire ing, hike and bike 301/ 579-7092 cabins, picnic, swimming 592-2897 1 9. State Park: pool, gamecourts. hike, fish and boat rental Anacostia Park: swimming 9. : cabins, campground, horse­ pool, sports facilities. Maryland picnic, hike. fish, crab back riding, hike, picnic. 36. Bluestone State Park: Konilworth Aquatic Gar­ Park Service 301/269-3761 swim, boat rental and ramp swim, water ski, fish, boat cabins, campground; pic­ dens features waterlilies. &3771 301/757-1841 rental and ramp, visitor nic, hike, swimming pool, center 703/674-5492 lotuses 202/426-6905. Camping and Special Ac­ 10 Calvert Cliffs State Park: gamecourts. tish. boat ren­ tals and launch U.S. National Arboretum: tivities 301/768-0895 camp picnic, hike and fish 20 , ornamental trees, shrubs. 301/888-1622 named for cross-shaped 37. Pipestem State Park: floral displays Trails in­ 1. Herrington Manor Slale 11. Point Lookout State rocks in area: camp, cabins: aerial tramway to Blue- horseback riding hike, clude Touch and See Na­ Park: cabins, hike, bike, Park: monument to Confed­ stone River complex, cab­ bike, picnic.swim, fish, boat ture Trail, designed for both picnic, iish. swim, winter erate prisoners of war, ins, lodge, campsites, golf rental and ramp, visitor blind and sighted persons sports, boat rental, ramp camp, picnic, swim, fish course, swimming pool, center 703/930-2424 202/339-5400. 301/334-9180 hike and boat launch 301/ gamecourts, horseback rid­ ing, hike, picnic, fishing East Potomac Park: swim­ 2. State 872-5688. 21 : cab­ ming pool, picnicking, mini­ Park: camp, picnic, hike 12. : ins, lodge, campsites, visi­ 38. Tomlinson Run State tor center, picnic, hike, fish, Park: fish. hike, picnic, ature golf, two golf courses, fish, swim and boat ramp campsites, cabins.- picnic, swim, boat rental and ramp swimming pool, game- driving range, club house. 301/387-5563 hike. swim, fish and boat on lake 703/862-0612 courts and boat rental 202/554-9813. 3. Fort Frederick State ramp 301/287-5333 22. Holliday Lake State 39. Holly River State Park: Fort ^'iDont Park: picnic. Park, on C&O Canal: re- 13. Martinak State Park: p *•' -M* •• ** sum- storr-H frontier fort, mu- ca- ' -h and h- ark:camnm~ "-'ke picnic. cabins.campground,game-

19 Operation

Library Resource

Have you ever read an interesting and pertinent article, only later to forget where you read it, or misplaced the magazine in which it appeared? Wayne L. Bell, clerk at the (NC-VA), solved this problem by suggesting that articles of significance to the Parkway be indexed and entered into the Interpretive Library card catalogue. All incoming magazines are reviewed by the Park Historian and Chief of Interpretation, and signifi­ cant articles are marked on the con­ tents page. The Interpretive Clerk indexes the designated articles, keeping both the index card and magazine in the Interpretive Office for two weeks. They are then for­ warded to the South District Office for filing. Bell also donated all newspaper clippings to the Pack-Memorial Library reference section. Clippings are usually filed and later destroyed when no longer needed or after a Emergency Dispatching for Patrol Rangers 3-year period. Providing the library Patrol ranger requests for one button dialing, and up to 31 with research material would information and assistance require different police, fire, rescue, motor greatly increase the library's existing immediate response by the radio vehicle, park and service phone shelf file of newspaper clippings and dispatchers in park headquarters. numbers are automatically would provide additional material Dispatchers must have ready access programmed into the phone. to the numerous historians, writers, to a myriad of telephone numbers. Listings are made alphabetically by students, etc., interested in North At Richmond National Battlefield type of service, and emergency Carolina and local history. Both of Park and Maggie L. Walker phone numbers are further these ideas also help free up storage National Historic Site (VA) which identified by a red mark. Computer space and make better use of consist of 12 widely separated units access codes are listed next to the library resources. in three Virginia counties and the appropriate phone listing. Bell received a $50 National Park City of Richmond, the dispatcher This new telephone system has Service incentive award for each of must deal with five separate local greatly increased response time and these two suggestions. and state jurisdictions as well as the efficiency within the parks and state motor vehicle computer which insures almost 100% accuracy. The itself requires three different phone phone is fully compatible with numbers and two access codes. multi-line systems including Chief Park Ranger Charles D. intercom and has rotary dial or Rafkind recommended installing a push button operation. Additional Western Electric Touch-a-matic 31 cost is less than $15.00 per month. phone in the ranger/dispatching Rafkind received a $75 National office at Richmond park Park Service incentive award for headquarters. This phone allows this suggestion. 20 Building Inventory Numbers

The Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism developed this building inventory numbering system for its facilities. The numbers are IV2" letters on a removable, rectangular board and are placed in areas not easily noticed by the public. The numbers are furnished by the Department's inventory control section, and placement is established by the park superintendent or the regional supervisor. This building inventory number­ ing system is part of the Arkansas State Park Design Standards, issued by Richard W. Davies, Director of State Parks in Arkansas.

Emergency Repair to Water System

Bryan Rowder from Idaho's Farragut State Park shares his suggestion for emergency repair for a water system. When the diaphragm on a Cla-valve (check valve) breaks because of excessive Rust Prevention pressure or wearing out, apply nylon reinforced tire tube patches The Junior West Coast rear-view mir­ on the break, the same way you rors that come on pick-up trucks and would if patching a tire. The vans are attached directly to the truck stronger the patch, the better. or van door, with no spacer or washer Rowder says that a "Hot Patch" kit between the mirror frame and door. will also work. Water, salt air and vibration create electrolysis which causes the door to This emergency repair may rust. prevent your park facilities from being closed for several days, while Rodney M. Stilwell, maintenance a replacement part is located, worker at Canaveral National delivered and installed. This would Seashore (FL) suggests installing rub­ mean a savings to the park staff in ber or neoprene washers between the complaints, possible vandalism mirror frame and door so the two because of closed restrooms, and metals do not touch. This would pre­ saves the park visitor the vent the door from rusting and would disappointment of finding the park add to the preservation of the vehicle. or recreation area closed. A $25 National Park Service incen­ tive award was presented to Stilwell for his suggestion.

21 Protecting Interpretive Equipment

Many park personnel use 16mm movies in their interpretation pro­ grams. As much as 6 feet of film is exposed to airborne dust particles which can damage both the film and projector. Gerald W. Sanders, park techni­ cian at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (IN) made a dust cover Before to place over the projector and ex­ posed film. The dust cover is an 18"x30" piece of colored plastic- glass and was made from scrap material. The dust cover has kept Porcupine-resistant Sign the film and projector relatively dust-free and has reduced the Having problems with porcupines? amount of time spent in cleaning A porcupine-resistant sign is now the film and projector from a daily available from Ojo Caliente to a weekly basis. Craftsmen, Inc., P.O. Box 67, Ojo An $81 National Park Service in­ Caliente, NM 87549. 3 centive award was presented to The signpost is made of A," Sanders for his idea. seven-ply porcupine-resistant After plywood, with a brown high density overlay (HDO). Sawbuck for Chain Saw Wood-Cutting The U.S. Forest Service's Missoula Equipment Development When a wood burning stove was pieces of plywood have a slot of Center researched and developed purchased for the maintenance shop about 2" wide cut in between the porcupine-resistant signs in the at Agate Fossil Beds National two middle crosses. This allows early 1970s, and the signs were Monument (NE), a device was both long pieces of wood to be cut made available in 1975. The needed to hold lumber while cutting and also the short pieces which are availability of these signs was it with a chain saw. This device normally hard to hold and saw by announced in the U.S. Forest would have to make certain the one person. Using this type of Service's December 1980, Equip lumber was held secure and would sawbuck, the short piece can be Tips. allow only one person to do the laid across the 2" slot and the chain entire operation. can be run down through the slot Maintenance worker James D. while both ends of the wood are Hanson constructed this sawbuck supported. that has four cross supports instead The sawbuck can be constructed of the standard two or three. The from old wood and posts. It allows two middle crosses are one person to cut wood with a approximately 10" apart and the chain saw, instead of two, and diagonal cross braces are on both provides a safer means for the sides to eliminate movement chain saw operator. lengthways. Hanson received a $250 National Two pieces of plywood are nailed Park Service incentive award for on the inside of all the crosses developing this idea. where the lumber will lay. Both

22 Recycling Recycling Aluminum Cans Steven W. Chapin, park planner at Blue Ridge Parkway (NC-VA), recommended placing a plastic gar­ bage container in the canteen area to collect empty soft drink cans. The cans are rinsed out before plac­ ing in the bag to prevent bugs from gathering. Twice a month the cans are taken to the local recycling center. Money received from the recycled cans is donated to the Employee Benevolent Fund. Recycled "Honey Wagon" Chapin's suggestion encourages the participation in recycling pro­ Park Technician Stephen M. Young grams to conserve valuable natural came up with an idea to make good resources, eliminates a potential lit­ use of a surplus tank and trailer at ter problem, and supports a worthy Big Bend National Park (TX). He cause. suggested converting the vehicle, A $25 National Park Service once used to haul hot oil, into a incentive award was presented to "honey wagon" for pumping toilets. Chapin for his suggestion. Adding an additional "honey wagon" to the park meant that the pit toilets at Rio Grande Village and Can Smasher Castolon could be pumped on a regular basis and would prevent pit This can smasher article was toilets from being closed because recycled from an earlier Grist issue. they were full. It would also save First appearing in the Nov/Dec time and expense for costly fuel 1962, Vol. 6, No. 6 issue of Grist, traveling between the two areas. it may be more useful today than The conversion would require ever! only minor alterations and a change Designed by Milford M. Cook, a of the hitch from a military to a painter with Sequoia-Kings Canyon ball type. National Parks in 1962, the can Young received a $45 National smasher will crush practically any Park Service incentive award for can, from the smallest on up to the his suggestion. gallon size.

Lumber Rack

Storing unused lumber from new building construction at Fort Scott National Historic Site (KS) was a problem until maintenance worker Harley T. Goff built this lumber rack. He used eight 8"xl0" timbers for the rack legs and spaced the legs 5' apart for an overall length of 15'. Holes were cut to insert 4"x4"x8' beams to form three 2' wide rack sections. The legs were notched at the bottom shelf level for 2"x4"x60" braces which will support one or more solid shelves for short lengths of lumber. Goff used timber and lumber left over from the restoration of historic structures at the site. He estimates labor costs at $103. A comparable lumber rack, if purchased, would run approximately $747.

23 Woodworking Bench Michael B. Younggren, maintenance laborer at Fort Scott National Historic Site (KS) shares this woodworking bench with Grist readers. Using two old display cases, Younggren suggests removing the glass, wiring and sloping top shelf, and sliding two cases together facing one another. Fasten the bottom of the cases together with two 2"x4"s on the existing stand. Fasten the tops together with two I"x4"x4' oak boards which will also support both ends of the top. Use l"x3"s inside at both ends of the bench as cleats for the second shelf, and run a l"xl" along the existing sloped shelf Vi" down. Connect the two sloped shelves together with a 2' x6' piece of Vi" plywood. Then nail 3A" oak flooring on top. Add sliding doors on each side that can be locked. This gives an 8"x6'x4' shelf with an entrance from both sides. Place a wood vise on one corner of the bench. Then put a tapered Saving Fuel in Maintenance Building door on the end to gain access to storage area between the two cases. Gene Baldock, B&U maintenance entire system, installing a 50-gallon Shelves on one side have storage and operations foreman at Grand container with an injector pump spaces of 12"xl2"x6', 6"xl8"x6', Teton National Park has suggested and installing ethylene-glycol in the and 7"x22"x6' and the other side a method for saving costly fuel oil. pipes. As evaporation takes place, 8"xl2"x31" and 18"x22"x36". Open The shop floors are heated with additional amounts of fluid can be area in between cases is an underfloor hot water system that injected as needed. This would 27"x22"x36". This bench provides must be turned on at the first sign allow the system to lay dormant for the Maintenance Shop with 24 of freezing in the Fall. It takes approximately 3 months a year square feet of working area, a approximately 8 hours for the without danger of freezing. functional wood vise, and 72 concrete to heat or cool and the While the system is dormant, the square feet of locked storage space. temperature can reach as high as overhead heating system can be Materials used for the bench were 90°F. Since the temperature is used which is more receptive to the left over from the construction of controlled by an outside necessary temperatures. When buildings on the site. Younggren thermostat, this method was outside temperatures do reach estimates a $780 savings to the impractical. Also, some of the pipes extremely low levels, the underfloor National Park Service. are near the door aprons and they systems can be turned on. He A $78 National Park Service easily freeze. This condition exists estimates that a 20% reduction in incentive award was presented to for some 6 weeks in the Fall and the fuel bill can be realized. Younggren for his suggestion. approximately 6 weeks in the A $130 National Park Service Spring. incentive award was presented to Baldock suggested draining the Baldock for his suggestion.

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