Ranger Department

In Case of an EMERGENCY

DIAL 9-1-1

Rangers conduct various programs for groups throughout the year on topics such as fishing, hunter safety, careers in park law enforcement, and bicycle safety.

Ranger Dave Vnuck is now a certified personal fitness trainer for the Park District. He is available to help you with your fitness goals on the Slippery Elm Trail and in our parks. Watch Events on this site and your local papers for special programs. To set up a program for your self or your group, or for more information, contact Dave at dvnuck@wcparks.org or 419-575-7331.

About Wood County Park District Rangers

• The Ranger Department was created in 1992

• Park Rangers are granted the authority to exercise all police powers within Parks, property under Park District control, and all properties adjacent to those under Park District control

• Our Rangers are all certified by the State of Ohio as Peace Officers as are all other Law Enforcement Officers in Ohio

Park Ranger Staff

• Six full-time Rangers

Rangers use a variety of methods to patrol our parks and preserves:

• In addition to vehicle and foot patrol, one of our most visible patrol methods is bicycle patrol along the Slippery Elm Trail.

• As part of our regular patrol, Park Rangers respond to numerous calls for service and provide assistance to park visitors throughout the year

• In addition to regular patrol duties, Park Rangers also provide security and traffic control at special events sponsored by the Park District each year

Community-Oriented Policing Programs

Park Rangers offer a variety of programs to further our goal of keeping our parks and visitors safe:

• Neighborhood Park Watch signs are posted in all parks and Park Watch groups are forming.

Ranger Program topics:

• Hunting and Fishing Education, often conducted in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Division of Watercraft

• Use Your Head – Wear a Helmet Bike Safety Program rewards children "caught" by a Ranger when wearing their bike helmets. Children are given a silver ranger sticker to place on their helmet and receive kids meals, ice cream cones, and other goodies donated by local restaurants.

• Bike Rodeos held in cooperation with other Police, Fire and EMS departments throughout Wood County help raise awareness among parents and children of the importance of bicycle safety.

• Fishing Derbies

Without donations from local retailers, bike helmet giveaways and fishing derby prizes would not be possible.

All mail correspondence to Wood County Park District Headquarters, 18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Chief Ranger Todd Nofzinger tnofzinger@wcparks.org  cell (419) 575-7336

Ranger Ernie Shiffler eshiffler@wcparks.org  cell (419) 575-7335

Ranger Doug Carr dcarr@wcparks.org 419-575-7333

Ranger Aaron Leist aleist@wcparks.org 419-575-7337

Ranger Travis Simons tsimons@wcparks.org 419-575-7334

Ranger Dave Vnuck  dvnuck@wcparks.org 419-575-7331

ASK A RANGER: ranger@wcparks.org  

--Park Safety questions

--Hunter Safety questions

--Information about what Rangers do

HUNTING & FISHING QUESTIONS: 

Ranger Doug Carr dcarr@wcparks.org 419-575-7333

SAFETY & FIRST AID QUESTIONS:

Ranger Ernie Shiffler eshiffler@wcparks.org 419-575-7335

ADOPT-A-TRAIL QUESTIONS & INFORMATION:

Ranger Travis Simons tsimons@wcparks.org 419-575-7334

GEOCACHE QUESTIONS & INFORMATION:

Ranger Todd Nofzinger tnofzinger@wcparks.org 419-575-7336