New COVID parks staff begins duties Monday in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Officials first told us about it two months ago, and on Sunday it finally began -- a new staff dedicated to cleaning city parks.

Ten people, including two supervisors, began training for their new jobs last week. They will be paid through the CARES Act, federal funding provided to municipalities for recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gillian Rossi, the city's park ranger supervisor, said the staff, known as public health ambassadors, will focus on picking up trash and spraying a disinfectant on railing, doors, door handles and other surfaces.

"They will educate our visitors on current COVID recommendations and on how to recreate responsibly during a pandemic, which is definitely new territory for us," she said. "But we're learning a lot, just as our public is learning a lot."

The disinfectant spray takes 10 minutes to dry before a treated surface can be touched again; touching it while wet may cause minor skin irritation. Ambassadors alert park visitors before spraying.

"They will focus on the four busiest parks," Rossi said. "Garden of the Gods, Palmer Park, North Cheyenne Cañon and Red Rock Canyon. Those parks will be cleaned every day. They also have a schedule to get to other parks as needed."

The ambassadors will work in two teams of five members, with at least one team working seven days a week, eight hours a day.

Rossi said the ambassadors will have no authority to enforce social distancing requirements; that remains the responsibility of park rangers and school resource officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department.

She also said park visitors and trash have increased at the busiest parks since the pandemic began.

Erik Krizman was working reduced hours at a local restaurant when he applied to be a park ambassador.

"I knew it was a new position that they just created," he said.  "I thought it would be good to get my foot in the door, and it's always good to be a pioneer of something new -- especially in government work."

Carlos Garcia, of Houston, Texas, was visiting Garden of the Gods and was curious about the ambassadors.

"We're concerned about the virus," he said. "We're actively sanitizing, using gel, washing our hands and of course, wearing our masks.  So we are concerned about it.  It's nice to see the park taking the precautions necessary."

The ambassadors will work through Labor Day weekend.