CHIMACUM — A new rescue location signage system has been installed at Gibbs Lake County Park in an effort to help emergency responders locate lost or injured park visitors, cutting emergency response time to a minimum.
Installed primarily by volunteers, the project was an effort of Jefferson County Parks and Recreation in coordination with Jefferson County Search and Rescue, the Quimper Trails Association and the Albright family, Gibbs Lake park caretakers, according to a press release.
The rescue locator system, similar to one in the Grand Forest on Bainbridge Island, is now in place at the park near Chimacum, along with newly updated trails system signage and maps.
“Gibbs Lake County Park is for everyone, and our goal is for park visitors to feel safe and comfortable. The new trail signs, maps and emergency locators should really help. We want everyone to come out and enjoy this incredible 700-acre nature park,” said Matt Tyler, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation manager.
Each numbered 4-inch by 4-inch rescue locator of the system corresponds to GPS coordinates that emergency responders can use to zero in on the caller or locate easily on the park’s updated trail map.
If a hiker twists an ankle or a mountain biker suffers a mishap, they can call 9-1-1 and tell the dispatcher the number on the nearest locator.
With more than nine miles of interconnected trails at the park, emergency responders will now have a better idea of where a park user is located and how to reach them quickly.
According to the press release, the Gibbs Lake caretaker approached Jefferson County Parks and Recreation staff about implementing the locator system after an incident two years ago when a mountain biker new to the park crashed and broke her leg.
After researching the system and realizing the life-saving potential and the relatively low cost, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation agreed.
“We’ve taken our time working on this project because we wanted everyone possible to have a clear idea of how the system works,” said Cher Albright.
Jefferson County Parks and Recreation purchased the locators and created the map, but the majority of the project was completed by volunteers.
Quimper Trails Association installed the new trail sign posts, and the Albright family gathered the GPS coordinates for the 25 sites and installed the locators. The final step was bringing the Jefferson County 9-1-1 service onboard.
The Port Gamble trail system and the Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve near Seabeck have also installed similar locator numbers.
The updated Gibbs Lake park map with locator numbers is available on the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation website at www.countyrec.com.
