KNOX COUNTY PARK DISTRICT

Welcome to our website. If you're looking to explore the great outdoors, you've come to the right spot. Knox County Park District's parks, water trails and area bike trails provide the public with an abundance of nature activities such as hiking, fishing, canoeing, biking, and picnicking, as well as meaningful educational experiences. Thanks to Knox County voters passing a modest parks and trails levy in 2008, new programs and parks and progress has been made on developing 16-mile Heart of Ohio Trail.

The purpose of Knox County Park District is to acquire, conserve and manage Knox County natural resources in a manner that preserves the rural character of the county, while protecting the county's unique historical and natural resources. We hope you enjoy our site and leave with an appreciation for what many of our residents and visitors already realize—Knox County Park District is a great place to live and visit.

Please fill out a short Visitor's Survey so that we might serve you better!

 

Your Thoughts? - Temporary Closure of the HOOT in 2011 For Paving Activities

In the summer of 2011, the Knox County Board of Commissioners, Knox County
Park District and the Ohio Department of Transportation will be improving the
existing Heart of Ohio Trail between Updike Road and Bishop Road with a 10 foot
wide asphalt paved trail, a length of 2.15 miles. The project will also include the improvement of the at-grade crossing of SR 3/US 36 east of Centerburg. The trail improvement is funded
with enhancement funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
As a result, a portion of the Heart of Ohio Trail will be temporarily closed during
construction and paving of the trail. The temporary closure is needed to ensure
safety during the construction of the project. Detour routes are not available in
this portion of the trail. Portions of the trial will be reopened as they are finished
or become safe for travel. The temporary closure notices will be posted at the
Centerburg end of the trail during construction and on the Knox County Park
District website. We would like to receive your opinion on the proposed closures.

Click here for more information (PDF) and an address on where to comment by 8/31!

Click here to download a comment sheet to mail!

 

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News Alert!

"Ohio EPA Announces Results of Kokosing River Study: Threatened Darters Abound
Pollution-Sensitive Species Indicate Watershed is One of Ohio’s Best"--Ohio EPA (7/20/2010)

Ohio EPA just issued a press release detailing results from their study of water quality for the Kokosing River. According to the press release, "In particular, the lower Kokosing has exceptional physical habitat and biological communities with hundreds of sensitive darters, including the bluebreast, banded, variegate and rainbow darter species. Ohio EPA found a record number of 194 bluebreast darters during a single sampling event on the mainstem of the river, more than doubling the previous record of 82 bluebreast darters found during a single sampling event in the renowned Big Darby Creek in 2001. The bluebreast darter is on Ohio’s threatened species list."

News Alert! NOTE: A large cottonwood tree is blocking the left descending bank of the Kokosing River between Kokosing Gap Canoe Access and Laymon Access. Proceed with caution through his area. Paddlers may experience shallow water depths on the right descending bank in this area.

 

Want to know more ways of helping the Park District?

Volunteer your time or take a look at our "wish list."