Dr. Amy Acton accepts role leading Columbus nonprofit group

NBC 4 ^ | May 5, 2022 | Brian Hofman

[CheshireTheCat]

A project to increase access to central Ohio’s main rivers and creeks has a new leader, and it’s a name familiar to many.

Dr. Amy Acton, who served as Ohio’s health director during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, was named Thursday the director of RAPID 5.

RAPID 5 is a nonprofit group that looks to expand public access to undeveloped areas near Franklin County’s major waterways. RAPID stands for “River And Parks + Imagination + Design,” and the 5 refers to the Big Darby Creek, Scioto River, Olentangy River, Alum Creek and Big Walnut Creek.

“This is a vision for the largest integrated parkway system in the country,” Acton said. “145 miles of nature and not just nature — outdoor classrooms, new transportation, venues — [and] it is about environmental sustainability.”...

[CheshireTheCat]

Hmm. So she can't get a job in medicine?

[\/\/ayne]

More idiocy coming... soon the parks and rivers will be filled with trash and sludge.

[Alberta's Child]

If I remember correctly, this was the jackass whose office issued a COVID directive for Ohio high school sports at the start of the 2020-21 school year.

The directive said that high school wrestling was permitted under the state’s COVID guidelines, but that — get this — the competitors were not allowed to shake hands before or after a match.

I would consider a dope like this to be unemployable in ANY capacity.

[nitzy]

She will be pushing for life vest mandates for vehicle passengers when using bridges to cross the rivers.

[Dogbert41]

I would imagine the federal grants for this land grab on behalf of “the public” is Ukrainian style MASSIVE.

[rcofdayton]

It’s nice to see she is using her medical degree.

[mmichaels1970]

As the owner of a canoe and two kayaks, I can say I’m fine with projects like this. She did a terrible job as health director. So I’m not sure if she’s a great fit for this role. But expanding access to nature in itself is a good thing. I hope she does well.

[mmichaels1970]

soon the parks and rivers will be filled with trash and sludge.

I believe the absolute opposite has happened in NE Ohio. You've probably heard the jokes about our Cuyahoga River catching on fire multiple times. That really happened.

Projects to expand access to the Cuyahoga (and other rivers) and create a scenic water trail have turned a once dirty, smelly, polluted river into a much cleaner, scenic destination. It's a work in progress, but the paddling scene here is growing greatly.

Credit where credit is due to the Ohio Division of Natural Resources. So many times agencies are telling you what you CAN'T DO or where you CAN'T GO. It's nice to have one that encourages you to get out and explore it.

They have interactive maps on their website that map out all of the put-ins, take-outs, and any hazards along the way. You can plan a day trip that costs you little more than the gas to get you there.

I think increased public access to waterways around here has had a net effect of making things cleaner than they were. There are many annual privately organized river cleanup events where paddlers get together, have a bit of a party, and float down the river, cleaning as they go.

[Nifster]

What does she know about parks and waterways?

[OHPatriot]

Great, now we have to listen to her whiney voice telling us how bad we have screwed up nature. Incompetent medical idiot and petty dictator.

[\/\/ayne]

That's great; however my point is that Amy Acton will wreck all that based on her previous record.

In 2020, prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Acton advised Governor Mike DeWine, who became the first U.S. governor to close schools and limit gatherings to no more than 100 people, despite the fact that Ohio, at the time, had only three confirmed cases. Ohio was also the first state to temporarily close down bars and restaurants when Ohio had fewer than 40 confirmed cases.

[mmichaels1970]

Good point indeed. I don’t know HOW they think she’s qualified for the position. But I’m glad to see her OUT of her previous one. She’s camped in a private non profit somewhere. I’d hope that should mitigate her chance to do harm.