News & Updates
5 Year Plan Public Meetings
We are currently seeking input for our Five-Year Plan for 2019 through 2023. Our parks and trails exist for citizens to use and enjoy through recreation, conservation, and education. The Five-Year Plan Public Meetings provide the opportunity to give feedback and suggestions for future projects and initiatives through programs and…
Be Safe and Courteous on the Trails
Warmer weather brings more people around the parks and enjoying hiking and biking trails across Stark County. Stark Parks is the Place to Be this year and the Public Safety Department has compiled this list of etiquette and safety reminders: Be Courteous: Move to the right when stopping on a…
It’s a Superhero Summer at Stark Parks!
Stark Parks is soaring into the season of sunshine and we want you to be a summertime superhero! From marvelous nature programs and aquatic adventures to fantastic wildlife events and super summer camps, there's something for every age and interest. Whether you want to learn about conservation efforts, get healthy, try…
Park Supporters Offering Reward to Catch Park Perpetrator
Local businesses and park supporters are collectively offering a $2,000 reward for the arrest and successful conviction of a recent assailant on the Middle Branch Trail. This comes after a woman was approached and attacked on the section between Martindale and Spangler Parks in Canton on July 3. Stark Parks…
Year of the Bird
Celebrate the Year of the Bird! 2018 marks the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Enjoy bird watching, discover new facts, and celebrate a better world for our fine-feathered friends at Stark Parks guided programs this summer: June 19 ● Adventures in Birding - Guardians of the Grasslands ● Nickel Plate…
Towpath Treks
You have seen pictures of tunnels, bridges, a dry dock, and bright red lock tender's house. You have heard about great places to see bald eagles soaring overhead and a chorus of spring peepers. Explore a few miles at a time over 25 miles of Towpath Trail in Stark County…
Walborn Reservoir Eagle Nest Report
In 1979 there were only four eagle pairs in Ohio. The state is now home to over 200 nests and with around 300 known eaglets hatching each year. The eaglets at Walborn Reservoir have never been banded by ODNR for safety reasons: the nesting tree has been struck by lightning several…
Cache4Coins Geotour
Find a series of 20 different caches that have been placed across Stark County for the Cache4Coins GeoTour kicking off on Dec. 31, 2016. Travel to peaceful reservoirs, surround yourself in acres of trees, stop by tasty and artsy attractions, and take in some local history in Stark County, Ohio.…
Celebrating 50 Years
Humble Beginnings (1960s and 1970s) The year was 1967. Although Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources had been established 18 years before in 1949, it was three years before the establishment of the federal EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and celebration of the first Earth Day in 1970. It would be another…
Exceptional Volunteers Honored
Stark Parks Volunteers and their accomplishments were celebrated at a 1967 retro-themed Recognition Dinner on Nov. 16 at the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park. The theme paid homage to the 50th anniversary of Stark Parks and the dedicated volunteers who have helped to develop and expand the park…
Gunnar the K-9 Receives New Vest
Stark County Park District’s first K-9 ranger, Gunnar, has received his k-9 ballistic vest thanks to non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and was sponsored by Consultative Insurance Group of Middleburgh Heights, OH. The new vest was custom-made and weighs about 5 lbs. It has a five-year warranty. Gunnar…
Nature Series
Get down and dirty as we explore different park habitats, identify wildlife, and learn about conservation efforts right here in Stark County. Programs, workshops, citizen science projects, and so much more will be offered in our new Nature Series. Between March and October, the first 10 participants to attend 7+…
New Wildlife Center Groundbreaking Held
[caption id="attachment_2743" align="alignleft" width="345"] Bill Bryan, Denise Freeland, Joe Sommer, and Bob Fonte breaking the ground for a new Wildlife Center.[/caption] On April 12th, 2017, Stark Parks officially named the new Wildlife Conservation Building in honor of Joseph J. Sommer. The new building will be located at 800 Genoa Ave…