Anyone here work for local Parks Departments?

General Discussion
1

We’re all patiently waiting for the sync to happen, so I thought it might be nice to have a chat that’s not related to that topic, just shake things up a little, ya know? :stuck_out_tongue:

I used to volunteer for my local Parks Department, so I’m still pretty close with the team there and I still get involved in parks related stuff even though I don’t actively volunteer there like I used to (health reasons, nothing serious. :smiling_face:). I live in a small town in Indiana, and if anyone here has ever watched the popular sitcom “Parks and Recreation”, I can tell you firsthand that show is EXTREMELY accurate. :joy: Some of my best memories were from volunteering there! I still occasionally go to park board meetings to show support for all the hard work they do.

My question for you all is this- Does anyone here currently work or volunteer for your local parks department? What’s it like also contributing as a Wayfarer while carrying out your duties? Do you make it known to your co-workers that you contribute Wayspots, and do they know what they are or what they mean for the community?

I only recently learned about this fun little hobby, so I wasn’t aware of it back when I was actively volunteering, but if I had been, I imagine I would have made it a big part of my role supporting our local parks and encouraging folks to come visit them!

Please share any fun stories you might have from your parks department adventures! :grin:

2

Not directly work, but a friend of mine lead a volunteer effort at a local park in collaboration with our local PoGO community many years ago - I think back to whenever the first Dratini or Charmander Community Day happened. It got recognized and promoted on Twitter at the time by Niantic and my friend was able to reach out to Niantic to actually submit several nomination suggestions. Keep in mind, this was long before PoGO could otherwise submit and may even have been during a pause in Ingress.

My local group still jokes about wanting to join the parks and trails department to encourage arts and sign installations and help decide where they go!

3

That’s awesome! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

My parks department might be installing a memorial sign at a newly renovated park now just because I requested a trail marker specifically for Wayferer haha

4

I volunteered st my local park many years which meants tons and tons or opportunities to get decent photos with no one in them. Never got to influence installing something eligible in open cells or anything like that.

5

It’s really cool you got to contribute as a parks volunteer!