News & Updates
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…
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+…
Summer Solstice Celebration
Save the date, June 21, 2018, for a Summer Solstice soirée for wildlife! Join the Friends of Stark Parks for the fourth annual Wild Night for Wildlife: Summer Solstice Celebration held on the outdoor patio at the Exploration Gateway. Kick off the season of sunshine with dinner, drinks, live music, live…
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 spring: March 6 ● Spring Migration ● Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park March 7 ●…
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…
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…
Quail Hollow Becomes Newest Stark Park
Stark Parks will be ringing in the New Year with a new park. Bob Fonte, park director, received the signed management agreement, confirming the Park District will officially take management of Quail Hollow State Park in Hartville, beginning Jan. 8, 2016. “This has been a long time coming. We’re all…
Scout Project Proposals at Stark Parks
Thank you for your interest in performing your Eagle Scout or Gold Award project with the Stark Parks. We encourage you to visit our parks to generate a project idea to propose. Successful proposals identify an area of need to enhance our mission to acquire, preserve, and develop natural areas…