Nature Abounds

Pickaway County Park District is a public agency serving the citizens of Pickaway County by providing a system of clean, safe natural area parks. The mission is to create, preserve and manage a system of parks, trails and natural areas for outdoor recreation. The Pickaway County Park District has two natural area parks with more than 24 miles of trails as well as supports all park and trails in Pickaway County through its Parks and Trail Grant Program. For more information on all parks visit www.pickawaycountyparks.org.

Marvin Webster Memorial Park This park features a shelter house, ball diamonds, a great playground for kids and a half-mile paved walking trail. The park is open from dawn until dusk. Shelter house and park may be rented. 5010 North St. W., S. Bloomfield. 740-983-2541.

Ashville Heritage Centennial Park Nestled next to the Small Town Museum, this park was dedicated during Ashville’s Centennial Celebration in 1982. Located on the corner of Long and Wright streets, Ashville. 740-474-3636. www. pickawaycountyparks.org

Logan Elm State Memorial Park In 1774, Chief Logan of the Mingo tribe delivered his powerful speech on Native American-white relations, culminating the end to Lord Dunmore’s War. 4500 State Route 361, Circleville. 800-686-1535. www.pickawaycountyparks.org

Stage’s Pond State Nature Reserve & Trails The 178-acre park features a glacial kettle lake and is a waterfowl refuge and prime observation area for birdwatchers. 4792 Hagerty Rd., Ashville. 614-265-6453. www.stagespondnaturepreserve.info

Ashville Community Park Featuring athletic facilities, playgrounds and shelter houses, this park hosts many community events throughout the year. 165 Walnut St., Ashville. 888-770-7425.

Deer Creek State Park

Ted Lewis Park Donated to the city of Circleville by jazz music legend, Ted Lewis, this park includes athletic facilities and shelter houses. 443 N. Court St., Circleville. 740-474-9052. www. ci.circleville.oh.us

Mary Virginia Crites Hannan Park & Trails This 72-acre park featuring the area’s only Boundless Playground, a paved bike trail, a splash pad and an all-season shelter house. Located on the corner of State Route 188 and Pontius Road, Circleville. 740-474- 9052. www.ci.circleville.oh.us

A.W. Marion State Park 309 acres located on the quiet waters of Hargus Lake, the park features rolling woodlands and a variety of recreational activities including boat rentals and launches, kayak and canoe rentals, picnic areas, camping and nature trails. The five-mile Perimeter Loop Trail is a selfguided tour of 14 points of interest located

Calamus Swamp & Trails This beautiful, diverse and rare 19 acrewetland offers a unique glimpse into the glacial past that shaped Ohio’s landscape. It is home to several distinct species of plants and animals, including waterfowl migrating through the Scioto River Corridor. A new trail takes hikers to the Ohio & Erie Canal Park. State Route 104 S., Circleville. 740- 549-0333. www.pickawaycountyparks.org

Barthelmas Park This park hosts a number of soccer, baseball and softball events. It also includes a beautiful playground area. 830 Kingston Pike, Circleville. 740-474-9052. www. ci.circleville.oh.us

Ohio & Erie Canal Park This 2.3-mile-long section of the Ohio and Erie Canal has been restored by the Pickaway County Historical and Genealogical Society as a historical, educational and recreational park. The park offers a shelter house and towpath trail along section of the canal and a new trail was opened in 2009 that connects the park with Calamus Swamp. Canal Rd. 740-474- 1495. www.pickawaycountyparks.org

Martha Hitler Parks & Trails Located on the site of a prehistoric Indian village, this 22-acre park has hiking trails and borders Hominy Creek. BolenderPontius Road, Circleville. 888-770-7425. www.pickawaycountyparks.org

Pickaway Trail This trail is a Rails to Trails endeavor that begins at Canal Road in Circleville near the Ohio and Erie Canal. The trail has been cleared to Sisk Road west of State Route 104. The Pickaway Trail intersects with the Towpath Trail along the canal.

Deer Creek State Park & Trails A collage of meadows and woodlands surround the 2,337-acre scenic reservoir. This resort park features a modern lodge with indoor and outdoor pools, cottages, a campground, golf course, beach, boating, nature trails, restaurants and gift shops. 22300 State Park Rd., #20, Mt. Sterling. 800AT-A-PARK. www.dnr.state.oh.us

Slate Run Living Historical Farm, Metro Park & Trails This park features open areas of grasslands, meadows, wetlands and forests along with conveniences like picnic areas, walking trails, horseback riding and fishing. The park also features a working farm where visitors can have a hands-on experience of life in the 1880s. 1375

State Route 674 N., Canal Winchester. 614-833-1880. www.metroparks.net

Towpath Trail This trail along the Ohio and Erie Canal is owned and maintained by the Pickaway County Historical Society and was used by the horses and mules towing canal boats back in the 1800s. Along this beautiful trail is a shelter house at the Ohio & Erie Canal Park, which connects to Pickaway Trail.

Roundtown Trail This new one-mile paved bike and recreational trail connects the campus of Ohio Christian University with the Pickaway County YMCA and the new Circleville City Schools campus.

Recreation Facilities

Crown Hill Golf Club 9500 U.S. Route 22 W., Williamsport 740-986-4653

Deer Creek Golf Course 20635 Waterloo Rd., Mt. Sterling 740-869-3088

Foxfire Golf Club 10799 State Route 104, Lockbourne 740-983-2801

Pickaway Golf Course 1399 Stoutsville Pike, Circleville 740-477-3438

Cook’s Creek Golf Course 16405 U.S. 23 S., Ashville 740-983-3636

Split Rock Golf Course 10210 Scioto Darby Rd., Orient 614-877-9755

Upper Lansdowne Golf Course 17565 Winchester Rd., Ashville 740-983-2989

Pickaway County YMCA Visit this recreational facility, which includes a six-lane swimming pool, basketball court and fitness center. Hours are Mon.-Thurs., 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat., 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun., Noon-6 p.m. 440 Nicholas Dr., Circleville. 740-477-1661. www. ymcacolumbus.org

Circleville Raceway Park This .7 mile, 20-foot wide asphalt course contains three right and seven left-hand turns. The park hosts a number of competitions throughout the season and is open to the public for kart rentals. 19413 State Route 23, Circleville. 740-477-1626. www. circlevilleraceway.com