Published June 29, 2023
Celebrating Pride with MetroParks horticulturalist Josie Rowley
Before MetroParks can put a wrap on another fun year of celebrating Pride Month, we checked in with MetroParks’ own Josie Rowley. Now a horticulturalist (and college student), Rowley began as a seasonal employee with MetroParks in 2020 and identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Her love of the outdoors was seeded in childhood with family trips to the beach, hiking adventures and more, but Rowley didn’t decide to redirect her studies to the great outdoors until she started working at Five Rivers MetroParks.
Making the move from studying psychology to focusing on wildlife fishery management was an obvious switch for Rowley, as she loves fishing – and being outdoors in general – especially with her partner, Chey.
While conservation isn’t her area of focus at MetroParks, Rowley is always happy to share her love of plants with the public. The beautiful floral displays, groundskeeping, ornamental plantings and urban habitats at the 2nd Street Market and Deeds Point MetroPark are maintained by Rowley and the rest of her MetroParks horticulture team.
“I really love the spring and summer when things start to bloom,” she said. Bringing her favorite work skills home, she and her partner have a little potted planting area on their new home’s balcony.
While Rowley loves the dense wooded trails of Sugarcreek MetroPark, working in MetroParks’ urban parks has wowed her due to the amount of wildlife she sees in the downtown area, from deer to wild turkeys.
“There’s little bits of outdoorsy-ness,” she said. “It’s such a feeling of ‘life can exist anywhere.’”
In fact, she recommends Deed’s Point and RiverScape MetroParks for those who are new to outdoors because the paved trails are so accessible and the many people around can give you a safe, supported feeling.
While there are many people who may be new to experiencing the outdoors and recreating in nature, this can be especially true of people who may not have traditionally felt that they fit into outdoor culture. MetroParks’ goal is to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported in the great outdoors, regardless of their age, race, gender identity, religion, body shape, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, ability and beyond.
For Rowley, she’s especially reflective of MetroParks’ employees being in a great position to welcome the LGBTQIA+ community to the great outdoors, as many of its staff are a part of this community.
From MetroParks volunteers to 2nd Street Market vendors, you can find LGBTQIA+ folks working in its parks, speaking to the public, leading programs and beyond. MetroParks wishes all its staff and visitors who celebrate – including Josie and Chey – and awesome allies a happy Pride Month.
@fiveriversmetroparks It was a great day at Dayton PRIDE last Saturday. We made some new friends and pet plenty of pups! We’re so grateful to be invited to this annual event and hope you’ll join us in making the great outdoors and inclusive, safe space for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, income, ability, body type, gender identity and orientation. #pride #pridemonth #pridemonth🏳️🌈 #nature #parks #dayton #ohio #metroparks #fiveriversmetroparks
Find resources and learn how to be an outdoor ally to the LGBTQIA+ community by checking out the following sites, influencers and more:
- Outdoorist
- LGBT Outdoors
- Unlikely Hikers
- Van Life Pride
- Parker (@kweenwork)
- Christopher Griffen (@plantkween)
- The Venture Out Project
- Diversify Outdoors
Local resources for LGBTQIA+ folks:
- Greater Dayton LGBT Center
- Equitas Health
- Public Health Dayton Montgomery County LGBTQ+ Health Initiatives
- PFLAG Dayton
- Dykes of Dayton
