Heritage Trails Park District Offers a Variety of Events for Spring 2023
As spring approaches, the Heritage Trails Park District will host a variety of events to highlight Auglaize County’s heritage and natural beauty.
Heritage Trails Parks Commissioners Allison Brady, David Stilwell, and Matt Teeters met in the Heritage Room of the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce office on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 at 5 p.m. to discuss upcoming events, signage at one of the district’s locations, and the possibility of acquiring additional preserve land north of St. Marys.
Upcoming events for the park district include a Spring Forward Cabin Fever Hike at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 12, and an April Showers Hike at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 16. Both hikes will start at the Noble Township Hall located on County Road 66A.
The Heritage Trails Park District will also host several events showcasing the county’s gardens and wildflowers. At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, Heritage Trails will collaborate with the Tri-moraine Audubon Club to host a wildflower walk at the Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Preserve. The Kuffner Preserve, located at 14840 County Rd. 66A in St. Marys, is a 15.8 acre native woodlot containing 1.4 miles of hiking trails and a grove of Pawpaw trees. Throughout late April and early May, the Park District will offer a self-guided wildflower hike at the preserve.
A garden swap and share event will take place at the St. Marys Community Public Library on Wednesday, May 17. The Library is located at 140 S. Chestnut St. in St. Marys.
The park commissioners also discussed other future events including
the Roots and Shoots Garden Tour on Saturday, June 25, potential dates for a Chimney Swift Night Out at the Buckland School, and possible events for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
In other business, new signage for the park located at Lock 14 along the Miami and Erie Canal was reviewed, progress on the potential acquisition of new preserve lands along the canal north of St. Marys was discussed, and possible applications for land management grants were considered.
The Heritage Trails Park District works “to continue to create and preserve park land within Auglaize County for the purpose of conservation, leisure and education for all to enjoy and appreciate.” More information can be found on the parks district’s website at: http://www.htparks.org/