By 1808Delaware
On a stretch of land between Winter Road and Chapman Road, wide fields and old trees are quietly preparing for their big moment. Preservation Parks of Delaware County is ready to show the public what this future park could become, and they are inviting residents to take a first look.
Community Invited to an Open House
The public open house will be held on Wednesday, November 5, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Columbus State Community College’s Delaware campus. The meeting space inside Moeller Hall will be set up so visitors can walk through conceptual plans, ask questions, and speak directly with the team behind the project.
Residents who cannot attend will still get their chance to explore the vision. The Concept Master Plan will be posted on Thursday, November 6, on the Preservation Parks website under the Park Development and Construction page.
A Landscape With Natural Character
The site already feels like a park. Mature trees line natural edges. Vernal pools catch seasonal rainwater and attract amphibians. Recently restored pollinator habitat brings butterflies in waves, and reforested sections hint at what the land might look like in a few decades.
Rather than imposing a park onto the property, the plan works with what is already there. Trails curve around stands of trees rather than cutting through them. Gathering spaces sit in clearings the land created on its own.
What the Plan Includes
Preservation Parks is not thinking small. Early concepts show:
- More than seven miles of new trail
- A shelter and restrooms
- A wildlife viewing area
- An outdoor classroom
- A treehouse tucked into the woods
- A hammock grove
- A nature inspired art walk
The most significant feature, though, might not be a structure. The park will connect 186 acres of Preservation Parks land to ODNR’s Seymour Woods State Nature Preserve, adding up to more than 290 acres of continuous green space. That type of trail link is rare along a corridor as busy as US 23.
A Different Kind of Park
Delaware County is growing, and sometimes growth brings pressure to pave open land or cut down woods. This project moves in the opposite direction. It opens the door for families, hikers, photographers, and birdwatchers to enjoy a place that still feels wild.
The park is in ongoing restoration. Trails will come later. Buildings will be phased in. for now, the focus is on improving habitat and getting the plan right.
Building a park like this takes patience, but the early signs point to something special: a refuge sitting just off the highway, waiting to be discovered.
