County's park district wants to focus on transportation, bird watching

Heritage Trails Park District board member Allison Brady wants to partner with the Auglaize County Historical Society’s “In Motion Series” to host three canoeing events with a historical education component.

“What was early transportation in Auglaize County?” Brady asked rhetorically during the district’s monthly meeting Tuesday. Brady wants to hold an event during one morning of Wapakoneta’s Summer Moon Festival. The program would be held in coordination with Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Her suggestion would be to meet at Fort Amanda Canoe Livery near Cridersville for a presentation on historic transportation and then paddle down the Auglaize River to Wapakoneta.

The park district is exploring other weekday event opportunities as well.

Park District members also approved the proposed budget for next year but may have to make adjustments down the road for insurance increases.

Board members and ODOT are still evaluating the possibility of improving a pull-off area at Lock 14 or an improvement on Glynwood Road for a pull off near 40-Acre Pond. Administrative Assistant Terry McDonald is still looking for a way to get further involved in the Auglaize County Fair. Currently, the organization has a booth; Brady suggested they get involved with Kid’s Day. McDonald said she wants to think outside the box the same way they did with the Gardenr’s Swap and Share.

The Fall Walk with Nature is expected to make a full return this year on Oct. 17. Brady noted they are looking at moving from food services to food trucks for the event.

As the Chimney Swift camera project moves forward, Brady said she is optimistic there will still be opportunity to catch the swifts during their nesting period this year.

Brady is hoping to mount two cameras, one on the roof facing the chimney and one inside the chimney. Brady wants to have a ground monitor onsite for the public to be able to view bird activity on the roof, and stream the feed to the Heritage Trails website.

Brady sees a future possibility to share different wildlife habitats throughout the county.

“My question is not can we do this, but what else can we do. I know where there is a bat colony. I know where there’s turkey vultures,” Brady said.

McDonald said she is looking at a self-guided tree hike for Kuffner Preserve in late summer after seeing the success with the self-guided wildflower hike.