Park & Trail Alerts

Rain, thunderstorms, and flooding can be hard on trails. Visitors are encouraged to check for updates before their visit and to follow all posted trail and parking area closing signs. For safety reasons, trails are closed to all users while trail crews are using equipment to complete repairs and maintenance. The following list reflects the most up to date trail closings and construction projects as of Oct. 31, 2024.  Expect rough conditions after any flooding or storms.  

 
 
 

Sippo Lake Park

Status Alert: Canalway Center Closed

The Canalway Center inside the Exploration Gateway will be closed from Nov. 1 to Nov. 6.

Deer Creek Reservoir

Status Alert: Access to Park from Rt. 225 Only and Hunting Season

Due to a sink hole on Price St. west of the main park entrance and Rt. 183, all visitors should enter from the east from Rt. 225. Walk-in fishing access to the Price St. causeway is permitted. Please do not go near the Road Closed barriers. Several hunting seasons are now underway or begin soon including Deer Archery Season (Sept. 28) and Waterfowl Hunting (Sept. 7). Trails remain open during hunting. Please wear bright clothing while hiking and biking the Mahoning Valley Trail. Private property near the trail does allow gun hunting on the following dates during deer gun season: Nov. 16 and 17 (Youth Season), Dec. 2 to Dec. 8, Dec. 21 and 22, and Jan. 4 to Jan. 7, 2025. Stark Parks issues permits to allow waterfowl hunting at designated areas around Deer Creek and Walborn Reservoirs during the fall and winter.

Esmont Park and Trail

Status Alert: Park Will Not be Decommissioned at this Time

Esmont Park will remain open as a public park and the Nimishillen Trail will continue to be maintained after public feedback was taken into consideration during the recent decommissioning study.

Middle Branch Trail

Status Alert: Trail Paving and Patchwork and Detour in Place

The trail through the Fountains at Edgewood development will be rerouted through the Lexington Farms development due to nearby construction. Please follow the signs for the temporary route. Trail paving and finish work is being done by a contractor. Please use caution of work equipment or crews.

Molly Stark Park

Status Alert: Park Closed

Molly Stark Park is closed until further notice. No access is permitted.

Nickel Plate Trail

Status Alert: Hunting Seasons in Progress

Trail connections to the City of Louisville northern trailhead of the trail (Rt. 44) and Metzger Park are currently closed due to facility construction projects. Please wear bright clothing while hiking and biking either section of the Nickel Plate Trail. Trails remain open during hunting season. Private property near the trail does allow gun hunting on the following dates during deer gun season: Nov. 16 and 17 (Youth Season), Dec. 2 to Dec. 8, Dec. 21 and 22, and Jan. 4 to Jan. 7, 2025.

Olde Muskingum Trail

Status Alert: Hunting Season in Progress

Trails remain open during hunting. Please wear bright clothing while hiking or riding the trails. Private property near the trail does allow gun hunting on the following dates during deer gun season: Nov. 16 and 17 (Youth Season), Dec. 2 to Dec. 8, Dec. 21 and 22, and Jan. 4 to Jan. 7, 2025.

Walborn Reservoir

Status Alert: Hunting Seasons in Progress

Please wear bright clothing and use caution while hiking, horseback riding, or boating in the park as several hunting seasons run through the fall and winter season. Note: The hunting area between Marlboro Ave. and Allen Dr. that also borders Osborne Ave. is closed to hunting in 2024-25 while restoration and reforestation on the property occurs. Several hunting seasons are now underway or begin soon including Deer Archery Season (Sept. 28) and Waterfowl Hunting (Sept. 7). Trails remain open during hunting. Please wear bright clothing while hiking or riding the trails. Stark Parks issues permits to allow waterfowl hunting at designated areas around Deer Creek and Walborn Reservoirs during the fall and winter. Please note that the Bingham Property located west of Marlboro Ave. and north of Allen Dr. that has previously allowed hunting will not be an open hunting area in 2024-25 due to construction at the site.

Congressman Ralph Regula Towpath Trail Park

Status Alert: Unpredictable Conditions South of Riverland Ave. and Hunting Season in Progress

A possible leak or underground utility may be causing an ongoing washout of the trail surface between Riverland Ave. and Rt. 212 in Navarre. Please obey all warning signage and slow down in this area. Trails remain open during hunting. Please wear bright clothing while hiking or riding the trails. Private property next to the the trail in southern Stark County from Craig Pittman Trailhead south to the Tuscarawas County line does allow gun hunting on the following dates during deer gun season: Nov. 16 and 17 (Youth Season), Dec. 2 to Dec. 8, Dec. 21 and 22, and Jan. 4 to Jan. 7, 2025.

Quail Hollow Park

Status Alert: Hunting Season in Progress

Deer Archery Season is now underway and bow hunters are present in areas of the park. Trails remain open during hunting. Please wear bright clothing while hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in the park. A public survey on a proposed renovation to the Carriage House is now open for feedback through Nov. 8, 2024 at https://starkparks.com/qhcarriagehousefeedback/

Tam O'Shanter Park

Status Alert: 2024 Construction and Improvements

Stark Parks has awarded the contract for parking lot and restroom improvements. Parking lots are aging and the layout doesn't serve park patrons as well as it could. A Clean Ohio site improvements grant will fund 75% of the cost to upgrade the entrance and parking and ODOT funding is anticipated to cover the balance of that work. Expect changes to current parking availability as well as to some of the temporary trail routes. For safety, construction fencing will be installed to delineate off-limits construction areas. Please stay away from the construction area and temporary fencing. Work is planned for completion in the spring of 2025. The “pro-shop” area of the former Clubhouse will be renovated to public restrooms and a small information space and will follow the same schedule as the parking. Construction on the western side of the park will allow for a secondary drive access across from Westdale St. This drive is only intended for use during construction and large events. As of 10/30/2024: The current entrance to the park is across from Westdale Rd. using the newly built western driveway. This driveway will not be the new permanent entrance, this is temporary while a new parking lot is built. Follow the driveway to the shelter for parking and a portable restroom. The Blue and Green Trails are open. Access to the Orange Trail near the pond and buildings is closed during this phase of construction. There is no access to the fishing pond at this time.

Pike Ridge Park

Status Alert: Park Open for Guided Programs Only

The park is open for guided hikes and equestrian rides only at this time. Please search "Pike Ridge" on the event calendar for the latest schedule.