By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Wood County Park District takes seriously its role to share the natural beauty of the county and its parks with the public.
This year, during the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the district is expanding its programming to include the region’s cultural and natural history.
Jim Witter, program manager for the park district, provided an overview of the celebratory events during the recent park district board meeting.
“We saw the America 250 initiative for the park district as a way to raise community awareness through programming, storytelling and interconnections with other agencies, and really show all of the great things we have to another audience that maybe doesn’t always get to see us,” he explained.
The programs, which connect the national celebration to the district’s core mission, intentionally intertwine cultural history with natural history
“We can’t really separate natural history from the cultural history,” he said.
The cultural history of the region covers topics such as quilting, spinning and foodways, and the natural history includes the county’s forest communities, fur trade and agriculture.
Programs include the Great Depression Lecture Series (in conjunction with the Wood County Museum), Heritage Farm Fest and Learning to Spin Wool. Park programs can be found on the website at https://wcparks.org/programs/.
Together, the topics are intended to provide a holistic view of the region’s heritage, raising community awareness and showcasing the district’s leadership in diverse programming.
The programming also builds upon Wood County citizens’ “excellent conservation ethic,” which was identified through park district surveys.
The park district has collaborated with and strengthened ties with other agencies and organizations, including the county commissioners, Bowling Green State University and the Wood County District Public Library.
“The park district has been well represented on the Wood County ‘America 250’ committee since the beginning of the process,” Witter said. Executive Director Chris Smalley initiated the parks’ representation on the committee, and Witter and Anna Stuart, Carter Historic Farm coordinator, are regular attendees at the meeting.
“We see this as another chance to bolster our community spirit, preservation ethic and conservation through these ‘America 250’ programs,” Witter said.
Slippery Elm repaving project plans continue
The board passed two resolutions to keep the Slippery Elm Trail paving project moving forward for 2026.
Smalley was authorized to enter into an agreement with American Structurepoint Incorporated to become the Local Project Administrator for the paving project. “The Wood County engineer has been fantastic to work with; they’re incredibly helpful, but there are some things that we need help with that are beyond them and the current park district staff,” Smalley explained.
The agreement is to pay American Structurepoint Inc. $22,108 for administrative services related to the paving project.
The board also authorized Smalley to represent the board in all proceedings and to sign all necessary documents related to the repaving process.
In June 2025, the Ohio Department of Transportation approved funding to allow the park district to resurface the Slippery Elm Trail in 2026. In December, ODOT and the district initiated a Local Project Administrator agreement, necessary to meet the requirements for the federal funds and establish responsibilities for the project’s administration.
According to Smalley, “The next steps for the project involve public bidding, project award, construction, construction oversight and LPA contract administration.”
The board also approved spending up to $51,000 for a new pickup truck for the operations department and $6,368.71 for 10 new tables from Southern Aluminum Company for Otsego Park’s Thompson Stone Hall.
The park district is hosting three public strategic planning meetings for community input about the park’s goals for 2029-2038. The meetings are scheduled for Thursday, March 19, from 5-6 p.m. at W.W. Knight Nature Preserve, Hankinson Great Room, 29530 White Road, Perrysburg; Monday, March 23, from 3-4 p.m. at Otsego Park, Thompson Stone Hall, 20000 West River Road, Bowling Green; and Tuesday, March 31, from 5-6 p.m. at Bradner Preserve, Community Classroom, 11491 Fostoria Road, Bradner.
