Special to 1808Delaware
Park visitors have a new place to dock their boats, grab some lunch, and gather with family at Alum Creek State Park. Lt. Governor Jon Husted joined Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz on Saturday to officially dedicate the new marina building.
“We know Ohio has beautiful outdoor spaces, but we also need first-class facilities,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “This building will better meet the needs of Ohio’s boaters and welcome visitors to Alum Creek State Park, where they can’t help but take advantage of our state’s nature-based experiences and top-notch outdoor recreation.”
The new marina building includes retail and boat rental space, offers pizza and snacks, accessible public restrooms and shower facilities, and a covered outdoor patio space. The facility replaces the previous marina building that was built in the 1970s and complements the recently renovated docks and fuel system installed at the main marina.
“All of our state parks are special to the communities they serve – so for those of us in central Ohio, Alum Creek holds a special place in our hearts,” Director Mertz said. “This beautiful new marina is just the latest in a series of upgrades we have made to this park, so future generations can make memories here for years to come.”
The project cost approximately $4.6 million and was funded in part by the Waterways Safety Fund, that reinvests money spent on boat registrations and fuel to improve, repair, upgrade, or install boating facilities like ramps, marinas, safety programs, and other boating related programs in Ohio.
This isn’t the first investment into Alum Creek. In 2017, ODNR replaced the docks, a project worth $5.8 million.
Located outside of Columbus, Alum Creek State Park is a boating, fishing, and camping destination for Ohioans throughout the state. In addition to the new marina, upgrades at the park include a Storybook Trail, rentable kayaks, a new playground, a new camp store, cabins, and 18 new campsites.
Photos from the day are below. Hover over the image and click the left or right arrows.
