Jonesboro panel hears first-year park ranger report; officials say expansion needed

Director Roper and Eric Schmidt presented a year-one update on Jonesboros park ranger program, outlining training, duties, accomplishments and next steps.

Eric Schmidt, senior code officer with Jonesboro Code Enforcement, said the program began in July and that staff hired four park rangers who received three weeks of training including two weeks of classroom instruction and field ride-alongs with animal services, code enforcement and the Jonesboro Police Department (JPD). Training topics included medical response (stop the bleeding, Narcan, first aid, CPR, AED), 4th Amendment and property-rights issues, Americans with Disabilities Act guidance, juvenile law, affidavit process, city ordinances and courtroom testimony, de-escalation, crowd management and use-of-force limits for civilians.

Schmidt described the rangers as ambassadors for the park system: "We want the public to feel that they are approachable," he said, and summarized the program motto: "preserve, protect, educate." He said the rangers are not police officers but are trained to support crowd management at large events and to be a visible, on-the-ground presence in city parks.

Schmidt provided statistics from the programs early operation: in 2025 the rangers recorded 74 complaints and opened 182 cases (cases ranged from park-rule violations to minor criminal matters). From January through May of the current year, Schmidt said the rangers recorded 102 complaints, opened 246 cases, logged approximately 268 violations, responded to eight medical calls, handled 14 animal complaints, recorded 51 criminal violations, made six arrests and issued 15 criminal bans from parks. He also said the program received a Trendsetter Award at the Arkansas Municipal League conference and an honorable mention for tourism development/creative culture.

Schmidt and Director Roper said program challenges include limited coverage with only four rangers on 12- to 10-hour shifts and routine turnover; staff reported they are cross-training with animal control and police to maintain continuity and recently installed a hitch and planned a bike rack to improve ranger transport and e-bike deployment. Goals cited were increasing community engagement (school visits, reading events, scavenger hunts) and expanding ranger staff to improve park coverage.

Committee members asked about training and e-bike deployment; Schmidt said cross-training is ongoing and that a bike rack and hitch installation should increase on-site ranger presence. The committee thanked Director Roper and Schmidt for the presentation; no formal action or vote was taken on program expansion at the meeting.