SAFE SOCIALIZATION
Park Service turns to social media to keep visitors engaged with HSNP
Hot Springs National Park has increased its social media posts in an effort to continue to entertain and inform the public during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced the closure of its visitors center, gift shop and Gulpha Gorge Campground.
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to have to telework from home or from secluded, socially distanced offices, the park has been trying to push more content to social media and the web,” said the park’s museum curator, Tom Hill.
“We want to provide our ‘virtual visitors’ with interesting and exciting interactions, since they are also craving access to the park’s natural and cultural resources as much as we are,” he said.
Hill and several other employees or rangers have each taken turns posting on the park’s social media pages.
“Jori Welchans and her interpretation rangers are posting lots of content, such as the fun ‘Animal Olympics’ activities a week or so back,” he said. “Park archaeologist Victoria Reichard is posting from home about artifacts from the park and the knowledge they have provided to us. Natural Resources Program Manager Nathan Charlton is posting about the thermal water, scientific research in the park, etc.”
“I have been posting ‘Throwback Thursday’ images and other posts about the history of the park and its cultural resources, including info about International Dark Sky Week,” Hill said.
Hill said a new employee, Ashley Weymouth, who was hired by the park “just before the pandemic hit,” will be coordinating the 100th-anniversary celebration of Hot Springs National Park to take place throughout 2021, “working with park leadership and area businesses, as well as local government representatives.”
“She has also been posting on our social media about various fun topics,” he said, noting these efforts have so far been successful. “I don’t really know the exact numbers, but I asked our social media coordinator and she said the response rate has gone up by ‘several hundred percentage points’ during this past few weeks,” Hill said.
“We have seen a tremendous increase in public participation with our social media posts. Lots of people reached, and lots of questions and comments. Great interactions!”
A recent post about some vandalism has been the most viewed post. “Our post about graffiti on the stone wall is at almost 16,000 people reached,” he said, noting most posts are averaging between 1,500 and 2,000 people.
“It’s been a lot of fun communicating with people this way,” Hill said.
As for the park, Superintendent Laura Miller said, “We’re still maintaining things as we have been. Trails and water fountains remain open, but other visitor facilities are closed. We’re thinking through issues to consider as we look to re-open some facilities in the future.”