Niagara Falls – As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into late spring, the general public is trying to find ways to cope with stress and the unknown. Many New Yorkers have decided to explore the great outdoors, thinking a visit to our state parks might help alleviate stress and tensions of the day.
This influx of traffic at our state and local parks has caused an attendance spike throughout the state and nation, including the Niagara Falls State Park.
While New York State Park grounds, forests and trails are currently open for passive recreation, the Governor is encouraging residents to stay home during this public health crisis. The Governor’s office is also asking those who choose to leave the house visit parks close to home, practice social distancing and use common sense to protect everyone.
The Niagara State Parks Commission, which boasts more than 20 parks and historic sites throughout Western New York, has more annual visitors than any other region in New York State. That has put CSEA members in overdrive, making sure the parks are ready for the upcoming tourist season just around the corner.
Niagara Falls — Every spring, Niagara Falls State Park employees like Nick Santiago work on rock scaling operations along the wall of the Niagara Gorge adjacent to the American Falls. The workers are removing loose rocks, ice and debris that have built up over the winter months that could pose a danger to the safe operations of walkways, picnic sites, trail hiking and access to the lower observation decks. All photos by CSEA member Chris Sodano II (Parks & Rec Aide 5).
“Every year late March and early April, we gear up to get the parks ready for the warmer months and bigger crowds,” said John Elia, President of CSEA Niagara Parks Local 104.
Elia says employees are working very hard at rock scaling operations, cleaning pavilions and rest rooms, doing lawn maintenance, tree trimming, planting thousands of bulbs and generally sprucing up everything in sight.
“We have tried to keep our focus on the job at hand,” said Elia. “Everyone in the Local is coming to work and getting the job done, in the midst of all these other challenges we are facing on a day to day basis,” he said.
One of the more dramatic tasks performed by CSEA members this time of year is a rock scaling operation, where park employees repel down the Niagara gorge some 200 feet above the bed of the raging Niagara River.
Donning helmets and protective gear, workers use pike poles to remove any loose rock and debris that have built up over the winter months. The work is carried out in order to make it safe for visitors who use walkways, picnic areas, hiking trails and the lower observation decks. The work usually takes just over a week and will continue until completion, weather permitting.
Elia said, “Our crew is beyond brave and courageous. There is no need to outsource this work and spend excess tax dollars– our members have the training, expertise and know how to get the job done. It takes an enormous amount of skill and intestinal fortitude to do rock scaling, and they never fail to get it right every time.”
Throughout the winter, water can creep into the crevices of the rock and through the freezing process slowly loosen pieces of rock as the frozen water expands, which then poses a danger to people occupying spaces below. Ice-jacking is the name of the process that loosens the rocks on the gorge face.
Once the rock scaling has been completed, an inspection is made to make sure everything is safe for visitors and park employees. Each winter, the lower observation decks are closed to the public to ensure visitors are safe from ice and possible rock falls.
“All we are trying to do is keep some normalcy here for visitors and our staff alike,” said Elia. “So far, we are doing exactly that.”
-Ove Overmyer
CSEA Niagara Parks employee Jerel Rozanski prepares to propel down into the Niagara gorge to perform rock scaling operations.
Niagara Falls — CSEA member Pat Josker was an integral part of a parks team who performed rock scaling duties ealier this month.
