The National Park Service has awarded Ranger Anna Marini the Director’s Visitor Safety Achievement Award for her significant contributions to visitor safety and injury prevention. This accolade is among the highest honors given by the National Park Service for exceptional achievements in visitor safety, employee safety, and health.
Ranger Marini, who serves as the Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) Coordinator at Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR), was recognized for her dedication and commitment to reducing risks to visitors. In fiscal year 2023, she expanded the JOTR PSAR program to address a rise in heat-related injuries among park visitors, which had led to an increase in search and rescue operations.
To combat this issue, Ranger Marini recruited and trained 30 new volunteers who rove park trails delivering safety messages, heat illness prevention tips, trail information, and more. Additionally, she integrated the Trail Rovers program into PSAR to streamline training and communications for trail operations.
A statement from Joshua Tree National Park read: “Congratulations to Anna, a vital member of the Joshua Tree team! We are very proud of her for this well-deserved award!”
