The Geauga Park District, among the

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

Metroparks, manages a system of

nature preserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological o ...

s scattered throughout

Geauga County, Ohio Geauga County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 95,397. The county seat is Chardon. The county is named for an Onondaga or Seneca language word meaning 'raccoon', originally the name of the ...

. The network of 22 open parks, as well as preserves and future parks, encompass more than and includes 60+ miles of walking, bicycle and horse trails, picnic areas, a nature center and abundant fishing holes. The park district is operated by a three-member Board of Park Commissioners, each appointed to three-year terms by the Geauga County Probate Judge. According to Chapter 1545 of the O.R.C., the Board is empowered by state law to hire professionals to manage park property, acquire land, designate law enforcement officers, and levy taxes to fund its operations. To sell or lease land, the Board must gain approval of the Probate Judge. The Board must maintain accurate and permanent records of its proceedings and is subject to open records laws in Ohio.

History

In 1959, Geauga County's League of Women Voters and several local garden clubs began to explore the creation of a park district modeled after neighboring

Cleveland Metroparks Cleveland Metroparks is an extensive system of nature preserves in Greater Cleveland, Ohio. Eighteen reservations, which largely encircle the city of Cleveland, follow along the shore of Lake Erie and the rivers and creeks that flow through the ...

in order to preserve natural areas and protect animal habitats in Geauga County. The Geauga Park District was established in August 1961 under authority of

Ohio Revised Code The ''Ohio Revised Code'' contains all current statutes of the Ohio General Assembly of a permanent and general nature, consolidated into provisions, titles, chapters and sections. However, the only official publication of the enactments of the Ge ...

Chapter 1545 http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1545 by Geauga County Probate Judge Robert B. Ford. The first park operated was a 4-acre park on Woodin Road in Chardon Township. The first employee of the district was Donald W. Meyer, who served as the agency's director from 1965 to his death in 1987. The district's administrative center at Big Creek Park in Chardon Township bears Mr. Meyer's name. The park system has completed thousands of programs for the public and continues to do so both on and off-site. The rich base of volunteers and the expertise of the naturalist staff makes these programs possible, and they are a staple in the community. Members of the community are encouraged to reserve the many lodges and shelters scattered throughout the parks for meetings, parties and family reunions. Big Creek Park, Chickagami Park, Headwaters Park and The West Woods have camping reservations available year-round and provide lean-to sites and tent pads. Rooms available at the Meyer Center and The West Woods Nature Center also provide space for county groups and organizations to host meetings.

Nature Centers

*The West Woods Nature Center is located in The West Woods. *The Donald W. Meyer Center is located at Big Creek Park.

References

External links

Geauga Park District Website
{{Authority control Protected areas established in 1961 Protected areas of Geauga County, Ohio Park districts in Ohio Nature centers in Ohio