By 1808Delaware
In a competitive year for park innovation across Ohio, a 0.4-mile path in Sunbury stood out above the rest. Preservation Parks of Delaware County has received the 2025 OPRA Governor’s Award for its Braille Trail at Hogback Ridge Park, recognized as the single park or recreation project in the state with the most significant quality-of-life impact over the past year.
The award was presented on February 3 at the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association’s Annual Awards Dinner at Kalahari Convention Center, marking the 16th annual presentation of the Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation.
More Than a Category Win
The OPRA Governor’s Award is selected from among first-place Award of Excellence recipients and judged by representatives of 13 statewide organizations. Projects are evaluated on impact, innovation, response to community need, and measurable outcomes.
Preservation Parks first earned an Award of Excellence in the Capital Improvement Projects category for projects up to 500,000 dollars, placing it among 13 first-place honorees eligible for the top distinction. From that field, the Braille Trail was chosen as Ohio’s best overall park or recreation project.
Designed for Independence
Opened in April 2025, the Braille Trail is the only known Braille trail in central Ohio and was intentionally designed for people of all abilities, including blind and low-vision visitors. Accessibility is not peripheral to the project; it defines it. The 0.4-mile route features a continuous guidance rope threaded through metal posts, a stable crushed-gravel surface, three interactive interpretive signs offering tactile and audio engagement, and a 3D tactile map at the trailhead. The park district also added its first family-style accessible restroom with an adult changing station, expanding the project’s impact beyond the trail itself. The result is a space where visitors can navigate and experience the outdoors with greater independence and confidence.
Built Through Collaboration
The trail was developed in partnership with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the American Council of the Blind of Ohio Sports & Recreation Committee, and the Sunbury Lions Club. Approximately 120,000 dollars in grant support from the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities helped bring the vision to life. That collaborative approach strengthened both the design and the long-term sustainability of the project, demonstrating how inclusive infrastructure can be achieved through coordinated local effort.
“Developing partnerships to improve the quality of life for all people is something that parks and recreation professionals excel at,” said OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward. “And this trail is a shining example of that work. Because of the foresight and dedication of the team at Preservation Parks, Central Ohio residents will have new opportunities to experience the beauty of nature—regardless of their ability to see. It really is a powerful project and a most deserving winner.”
Statewide Impact, Local Pride
The 2025 finalists for the Governor’s Award included MetroParks of Butler County’s suicide-prevention sign campaign and the City of Toledo’s “One Pill Can Kill: One Voice Can Save a Life” initiative, underscoring the strong field from which the Braille Trail emerged.
As the winning project, it brings not only statewide recognition but also a 500-dollar foundation contribution tied to the award. Modest in amount, the funding is symbolic of a much larger achievement: Delaware County is now recognized as a statewide model for inclusive park design and accessible outdoor recreation, raising the bar for what public spaces in Ohio can and should provide.
NOTE: A reader has shared that while the mailing address is Sunbury, the park is located in Brown Township near Kilbourne and Alum Creek Lake. It can be easily found via Google Maps or GPS at 2656 Hogback Road, Sunbury.
Source, Photo: OPRA, Preservation Parks of Delaware County
