News & Updates
Certified Backyard Habitat Programs
Nothing says spring like learning how to make your space a welcoming environment for local wildlife! With this new series, Stark Parks will teach all you need to know to qualify your backyard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. A certified backyard habitat contains the essential needs that wildlife need to…
parkrun USA is Coming to Sippo Lake Park!
Friends of Stark Parks is proud to bring parkrun USA to Sippo Lake Park in 2019! parkrun is a completely free, weekly, timed 5k staged at parks around the world, led by volunteers. Stark Parks will host the first one in Stark County on Saturday, April 20 and each Saturday…
Partnerships Pave the Way for Iron Horse Trail Extensions
Stark Parks, in partnership with the City of Alliance and the University of Mount Union, will be starting work to connect the Iron Horse Trail to the Mahoning Valley Trail. The connection will be made through the university campus and downtown Alliance, and will link the two trails at Earley’s…
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…
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…
Creature Spotted at Sippo Lake Park…April 1 Program to Investigate Local Wildlife
Is it a bird? Is it a fish? Much like the mystery that surrounds Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster of Scotland, a creature may have been spotted in the waters of Sippo Lake! Do photos lie? Photos of what appear to be a massive tail and long neck have surfaced, but…
Exceptional Volunteers Honored
Stark Parks Volunteers and their accomplishments were celebrated at a honeybee-themed Recognition Dinner on Thursday, November 15 at the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park. The theme paid tribute to the hard work, variety of roles, and the common goals that are represented in the volunteer program. Volunteers from…
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…
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…
