Mount Vernon, OH – Knox County Park District Director David Heithaus highlighted an active spring season, attributing increased outdoor engagement to favorable weather conditions. Heithaus noted various ongoing initiatives during a recent commissioners’ meeting on Thursday.
He mentioned that the “Friends of the Woods” group has been actively managing invasive species, while the “Friends of the Kokosing” have been conducting regular river cleanups nearly every weekend.
Plans to enhance the Zuck Riparian Preserve parking lot are set to commence pending suitable weather conditions. Additionally, improvements to gravel lots at Greer Landing and Mount Vernon Avenue are slated for this year.
Collaboration with the Ohio Department of Transportation continues at Wolf Run Regional Park, where an engineered driveway and ADA-compliant parking spaces are in development.
In efforts to enhance recreational facilities, the district has submitted Capital Appropriations and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants for repaving the Kokosing Gap Trail, with an estimated cost of $1.4 million. Heithaus expressed uncertainty regarding the outcome due to high demand for funding.
The anticipated opening of a disc golf course at Thayer Ridge aims to draw visitors from neighboring counties like Licking, Delaware, and Franklin, where disc golf is gaining popularity.
Moreover, the district is exploring partnerships with local communities to install historical signs along trails. Interest has been expressed by officials from Mohican Valley and Heart of Ohio trails, although caution was advised by commissioners to avoid an overabundance of signage resembling advertisements.
The Knox County Park District continues to capitalize on the favorable weather to expand and improve outdoor recreational opportunities, fostering regional interest and engagement in their initiatives.