Kindness Urged After Austin Park Ranger Attacks Amid Coronavirus

AUSTIN, TX — Following a string of assaults on park rangers at the hands of people objecting to being asked to comply with safeguards meant to blunt the coronavirus spread, city officials have issued a call for kindness.

Amid the ongoing reach of COVID-19, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, in collaboration with Austin Public Health, has made modifications to their operations to keep the city safe and healthy, officials wrote in an advisory. To help encourage social distancing and space out visitation to park locations, park rangers and monitors have worked to share safety messages with park visitors about closures, reservations systems and social distancing, officials added.

Some have not taken kindly to the modifications. Since March of this year, officials said, park rangers and monitors have been assaulted both physically and verbally on at least six different occasions while working for our community. These incidents include employees being yelled and cursed at, pushed into the lake, threatened with weapons, punched and pushed to the ground, according to a city tally.

Related story: Arrest Made After Park Ranger Pushed In Lake Austin Water

“It takes a toll on individuals trying to share an educational message, to be personally attacked both verbally and physically,” Amanda Ross, Austin Parks and Recreation Department division manager for natural resources, said in a prepared statement. “These employees are there to assist the public, not become an outlet for their frustration,”

Officials said park rangers are trained staff who act as ambassadors to Austin’s park system — helping people who might be lost on a trail, sharing information about how to enjoy parks and providing educational programming to visitors. They are not commissioned peace officers and do not carry weapons, officials noted. For their part, park monitors are staff members who have been temporarily reassigned due to closures within their city divisions. They support park rangers by checking reservations, explaining health and safety guidelines, and offering basic park information to visitors, according to the city.

"During these difficult times we would ask for some grace and understanding as the park system reopens,” Austin Parks and Recreation Department assistant director Lucas Massie said in a prepared statement. “This is new territory for us all.”

Travis County Parks has also made modifications to their operations, and while they haven’t experienced incidents like the city has, they echoed the message: “We understand it can be frustrating when Travis County parks have to close once they reach capacity, but we have these measures in place to ensure everyone’s well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Travis County Parks Director Charles Bergh said in a prepared statement. “Please know that our hard-working staff is there to help you enjoy Travis County parks safely and whenever possible. In return, we ask that you do your part by wearing face coverings when needed and staying six feet from one another as much as possible to help flatten the COVID-19 curve.”

In light of these recent events, Austin and Travis County are asking the community to "Spread Kindness, Not COVID," officials said: “If you see something, say something by calling 3-1-1, or 9-1-1,” Austin Park Ranger Program Manager LeAnn Ishcomer said in a prepared statement. "Austin is an extraordinary community, and we have been through so much together this year. We are asking for your support in making our Parks and public spaces safe for everyone in this community.”

For information and updates, visit the Austin Parks and Recreation Department website.