Escape to the State Park
photo by Cindy Steele
~by Bob Gustin he coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot of things about how people interact with each other. But in many ways, Brown County State Park—and our interaction with nature in general— remains a constant. The park’s water fountains have been shut off and the outdoor swimming pool is closed. All park employees are wearing masks. The park honors Governor Eric Holcomb’s mandatory mask requirement for most indoor and certain outdoor activities. Meanwhile, Brown County State Park is the quintessential site for social distancing. Patrick Haulter, interpretive naturalist at the park, noted that many people come to the park for some solitude, to take time for reflection, or simply enjoy the natural beauty. Most picnic tables scattered throughout the park are singles. Many parking spaces will only accommodate one vehicle. If anything, the pandemic has resulted in an increase in visitors to the park, as people grow weary
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16 Our Brown County • Sept./Oct. 2020
of staying at home and need an escape. Haulter likens it to an oasis. “Through the park, we’ve learned how important outdoor spaces are,” he said. “They are a refuge for people. “It has been challenging and rewarding. It’s amazing to see people come to the park who have never been here before and to watch them realize how important these natural resources are.” Summer months have seen busy campgrounds and the usual activity on hiking and bicycle trails. For a short time in the spring, park gates were unmanned while campgrounds, park headquarters, and the Nature Center were closed. Open gates resulted in a downturn in revenue, Haulter said, but the state’s parks were never totally shut down. And though the park’s outdoor pool is closed, the water park at Abe Martin Lodge remains open, but limited to guests at the lodge. Some of the state’s nature programs have become virtual classrooms, including Facebook features with
