Prince William County Park Rangers Educate, Ensure Safety

From educating visitors on park wildlife and plants, to keeping our parks secure, Prince William County park rangers are there to ensure a safe, enjoyable environment so that all residents and visitors can enjoy our parks. Maya Hankins is one of those rangers.

Maya, who’s been working for Prince William County for about two years, patrols various regions of the county like all of our rangers, depending on where she gets assigned for the day. A native of Virginia who studied environmental science at the University of Virginia, says she always had this dream of being a park ranger.

“I grew up going to parks, all around the county actually. I’m from here and my parents and grandparents always instilled in me a love and respect for the environment—like a ‘leave no trace’ mindset,” says Maya.

Despite growing up in the area and having visited many parks as a child she says it surprised her how many parks she never knew about.

Prince William County has one of the most robust park systems in the country, with 57 parks and facilities, and 60+ miles of trail spread across 5,000 acres of land.

During each shift the park rangers are tasked with doing what most would call a “sweep” of each park or facility in their assigned area for the day—checking all the parking lots and surrounding areas to ensure no one is violating any of the park regulations and then also monitoring for any active crime, which if found would be reported to Prince William County Police.

“As park rangers, our top responsibilities are to provide safety and security for visitors, help preserve park resources and the environment, and ensure a positive experience for all park patrons,” says Assistant Chief Park Ranger, Art Jacobsen.

Jacobsen, a retired law enforcement officer, with 32 years of service in Washington, DC served for 28 years as a federal law enforcement officer with the U.S. Park Police prior to coming to Prince William County.

Our park rangers also take note of park and trail conditions and report those as needed to grounds and maintenance to be addressed.

In addition to ensuring a safe environment for visitors, our park rangers are also there to interact with the public, answer questions, explain park rules and provide park information. They help educate the public on anything from native plants to wildlife one might see or encounter during a visit. 

Maya says one thing she really enjoys about her job is exploring native plants around the county and also connecting with the community.

“I’m really interested in the intersectionality of the environment and how things like parks benefit communities,” she says. “And people are usually at their happiest when they’re here (parks) and it’s really cool to see how much of an impact these spaces have.”

She also enjoys the autonomy the job provides, and that no day is the same.

“PWC Park Rangers are a dedicated group of diverse hard-working individuals with independent skills that strengthen the division allowing us to provide these services,” adds Assistant Chief Jacobsen.

Our Prince William County park rangers are always available to answer any questions and ensure visitor safety including rendering first aid services to the public if needed. To learn more about our rangers or to report an issue click here.