THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240526
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 74 lines
You can come, but don't bring a canoe, a surfboard or a car hood.
And don't expect a fast ride. It'll be more like a slow slide.
That's what members of the Mount Trashmore Snow Committee will be telling sledders who arrive during the next snowfall.
``For the thrill-seeker, this (plan) is not going to excite him or her,'' said Ray A. Emerson, parks administrator and committee member.
Committee members released a plan Thursday that outlines the do's and don'ts of sledding at the city park, which, at 63 feet above sea level, is the highest point in the city open to the public.
The plan is the first attempt by parks officials to control sledding and comes a year after a melee erupted during a snowstorm Feb. 4 that drew about 5,000 thrill-seekers to the park. Dozens of riders were injured while parks officials struggled to maintain control.
Members of the committee, including representatives from several city departments and a member of the public, voted to close Trashmore's steepest slope on the northwestern end near the city seal.
Last year, many of the injuries were sustained on that side of the mountain when sledders slid into fences and even out onto Edwin Drive, a heavily traveled road that runs next to the park.
During the next snowfall, the slope will be sectioned off with fences and sheriff's deputies will patrol the perimeter, Emerson said.
The plan calls for sledding on the mountain's north and south sides, where the slopes are gradual, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bales of straw will be placed in strategic locations to help create an aisle for sledders trying to get back to the top.
``These sides are not steep and there'll be plenty of room for sledders to stop at the bottom,'' Emerson said. ``We'll let them sled down and then direct them to each side to go back up.''
The committee plans to staff the park with 11 sheriff's deputies, four police officers and a sergeant, and eight to 10 park personnel.
There also are plans to have two emergency medical units on-site and a first-aid station in the park's office.
``This is a much better situation than the uncontrolled open sledding of last year,'' said Emergency Medical Services division chief Ed Brazle. ``We feel like there will be less injuries if it's controlled.''
Brazle added that last year the Emergency Medical Services department had a dozen technicians, four emergency vehicles, a command station and a first-aid station set up at the park before the day was over Feb. 4.
Brazle said 20 people were treated for injuries and 13 were taken to the hospital. Two required surgery for abdominal injuries.
``We don't expect that volume of injuries again,'' Brazle said.
The committee didn't attempt to come up with a list of recommended sledding apparatus, Emerson said. Officials hope instead that people will ``use common sense,'' he said.
Anyone who arrives at the park carrying what's considered to be dangerous, like a canoe, will be turned away.
Emerson said there is still a question as to just how many sledders the park can handle.
``If we get say, 1,000 people, we may have to close the park down and split it into morning and afternoon sessions,'' he said. ``What we're really doing is we're trying to see if this will work. If it doesn't, we'll have to revisit the plan. If it does, that's great.''
Emerson hopes to have the fencing and straw ready and waiting within a week, he said. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
IF IT SNOWS...
Mount Trashmore Park will be open to sledders only between 8 a.m.
and 5 p.m.
The hill's steepest slope on the northwestern end near the city
seal will be closed.
Potentially dangerous materials - such as car hoods, surfboards
and canoes - cannot be used as makeshift sleds.
Parks officials might close the park if the crowd grows too
large.