John Freeborn worked for nearly 18 years as a senior ranger at Ridgway State Park before becoming the park manager in June after Kirstin Copeland retired. Freeborn, who grew up on the Front Range, said he hopes to hire more staff to keep up with growing visitation, as well as improve infrastructure. Kylea Henseler â Ouray County Plaindealer
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Longtime ranger takes reins at park
With the infrastructure at the nearly-30-year-old Ridgway State Park aging and visitation increasing, new Park Manager John Freeborn has a lot on his hands.
“It’s been like living life through a firehose,” he said of the transition to his new role.
Freeborn is no new face at the park — he worked there for nearly 18 years as a senior ranger before taking on his new position in June, after Kirstin Copeland retired. But now, he runs point on everything.
Freeborn, 46, said he always wanted to b...
