An Open Space Radio Halloween: Spine-Chilling Tales from Parks and Recreation — Episode 172

Halloween is here, and Open Space Radio is celebrating with one of our most hauntingly fun episodes yet. In this special episode, we sit around the virtual campfire to share a few eerie tales from park and recreation professionals.

From ghostly encounters in historic parks to strange happenings at community events, this episode is packed with stories that remind us how our parks come alive (and sometimes come back to life) after dark.

Halloween Celebrations Across the Country

Before diving into the stories, we highlight some of the incredible ways communities are celebrating Halloween this year. In Denton, Texas, for example, the city celebrates all 31 days of October with more than 300 events and 30 placemaking experiences, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors downtown.

Cobb County Parks in Georgia brings the scares with its ever-growing haunted house event, which has expanded into a seven-day attraction boasting 17,000 square feet of spine-tingling fun. And in Rutland, Vermont, a legendary Halloween parade continues its decades-long tradition of bringing the community together.

True (and Truly Spooky) Stories From the Field

The stories that follow are first-hand accounts from professionals who have experienced things that defy easy explanation:

The Whistling at the Senior Center: In Wyoming, Michigan, a staff member setting up for an event alone on a Saturday heard whistling echoing through the darkened building, even though every door was locked.

Elise's Watchful Spirit: At Farrel–McWhirter Park in Redmond, Washington, longtime staff have grown accustomed to the lingering presence of the park's original owner, Mrs. Elise Farrel–McWhirter. From flickering lights to the scent of pipe tobacco wafting through empty rooms, her spirit seems to remain as she lovingly watches over the land she donated more than a century ago.

The Fire Pit at Great Pond: In Maine, a routine maintenance check took a terrifying turn when a park and recreation professional found himself face-to-face with a family of baby skunks and a very protective mother. This suspenseful (and slightly comedic) tale proves that not all scares are supernatural!

The Ghost in the Mist: During a New Year's Eve event in Belfast, Maine, a director captured what appeared to be a face (and a specific finger) in a mysterious mist that appeared during a community bonfire. The photo, still a topic of conversation at city hall, left her with chills that haven't quite faded.

This episode of Open Space Radio is sponsored by the American Sports Builders Association: