40 Pheasant chicks (hens & roosters) were released at White Star Park on Fri, June 19 courtesy of South Side Sportsmen Club. One of Ohio’s oldest charted sporting clubs, they are dedicated to the camaraderie of outdoor sports, specifically pheasant hunting. For more information on South Side Sportsmen Club, write P.O. Box 90, Maumee, OH, 43537. Listen for the roosters call as you walk the trails at White Star Park.

Pleasant weather brought out 75 participants to the Clyde Kids Fishing Festival on June 18 sponsored by Sandusky County Park District and the Clyde Recreation Department. Bait was provided by Sandusky County Sportsman Club, ‘big catch’ photos courtesy of S & J Travel, activity table by OSS Solid Waste District, and all participants received Arby’s coupons. It was especially nice for Allie, Mikayla, and Jason, as they caught their first fish ever.

The Sandusky County Park District announces the opening of Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area on May 4. The area will be open daily, year-round, during daylight hours.

Located near Gibsonburg at S.R. 600 and C.R. 74, this significant 360-acre property has been managed as a private hunt club for more than 60-years. 

A grant from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund and donations from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Sandusky County Sportsman’s Club have made it possible for the Park District to acquire the Ringneck Ridge Hunt Club using no local tax monies.

Visitors to Ringneck Ridge should access the site from the parking lot on C.R. 74, and are welcome to walk on their own around the property. Regularly mowed and maintained trails will be established in the future. Rules are being established for fall hunting.

Where Do I Get On The Bike Trail?

New Bike Trail maps are being designed, and until they are available, here is the answer to the frequently asked question: Where do I get on the bike trail?

The North Coast Inland Trail may be accessed in downtown Clyde, at the gazebo.

In Fremont, access at East Side Biggs Kettner Park; Walsh Park; Park Ave & Hayes Ave.

From there, use surface streets: suggested Park Ave to Birchard Ave to Jefferson St, Napoleon Road, Brush St, State Street to the parking lot on Walter Ave. (Most of the city route is marked with green "Bike Route" signs).

From the Walter Ave parking lot (next to Motion Controls) (official address of Walter Ave lot is 1630 Walter Ave) you can take the bike trail through downtown Lindsey (Wendelle Miller Park), and downtown Elmore (Walter Ory Park).

Bridle Trail Opens at White Star Park

The newly formed Sandusky County Chapter of the Ohio Horseman’s Council observed the opening of Sandusky County’s first public bridle trail at a ribbon cutting event held at the White Star Park trailhead on Sun, Oct 26.  A large number of equestrians joined in the event to celebrate the trail made possible by hundreds of hours of volunteer trail construction work.  The trail, which is approximately 3-miles in length, is located in the White Star Park Wetland Area and can be accessed on County Road 66, just north of County Road 65.

Creek Bend Farm Grand Opening Sept 28

"THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME"
2008 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

There were 254 entries in "There's No Place Like Home Photo Contest" sponsored by Sandusky County Park District, Fremont Parks & Recreation, Dumminger Photography, Memorial Hospital, The News-Messenger, and Sandusky County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Cash prizes, ribbons, and door prizes were awarded to the 56 entrants. 

BEST OF SHOW:  Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Evening Reflections"

AUDUBON AWARD: Patricia Liebold, Clyde, "Interrupted Meal"

PEOPLE'S CHOICE: Tyler Weaver, Fremont, “The Star Among Us”

click on photos to see larger view. 

PARK DISTRICT SCENES:

1st:  Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Path to Serenity"

2nd:  Matt Hafley, Fremont, "Wolf Creek"

3rd:  Bonnie Curless, Clyde, "TA DA!!!"

4th:  Thomas Liskai, Helena, "Harvest at Creek Bend Farm"

5th:  Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Mystical Morning"

HM:  Dave Caldwell, Clyde, "Farm Truck"; Patricia Liebold, Clyde,"Whispies"

FLORA:

1st:  Tim Wasserman, Fremont, " Spiegel Grove in Fall"

2nd:  K. Sue Hauser, Fremont, "Wild Ginger"

3rd:  Emily Rader, Clyde, "Corn Maze"

4th:  Tom Dorobek, Fremont, "Thistlehead"

5th:  Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Early Spring"

HM: Patricia Liebold, Clyde, "Persimmons"; Hope Sheidler, Fremont, "Big Lyons Falls"; Ronald Callahan, Tiffin, "Times Past"

RECREATION AND HUMOR:

1st:  Jacob Flores, Fremont, "Exhausted"

2nd:  Bonnie Curless, Clyde, "I Can Really Drive"

3rd:  Bonnie Curelss, Clyde, "Open Up"

4th:  Lewis Orr, Green Springs, "The Other Way of Doing Hopscotch"

5th:  Thomas Liskai, Helena, "Off We Go Into The Sunset"

HM:  Debra Caldwell, Clyde, "Jaedyn"; Lynne Russell, Fremont, "Little Bo Peep"

WILDLIFE:

1st:  Maien Sachisthal, Clyde, "Tennis Frog"

2nd:  K. Sue Hauser, Fremont, "I Am Smiling"

3rd:  Annette Cluck, Fremont, "Eastern Tiger Swallowtail"

4th:  Judy Empcke, Fremont,  "Speck of Sunshine"

5th:  K. Sue Hauser, Fremont, "Having a Bad Hair Day"

HM: Judy Empcke, Fremont, "House Finch"; Abbey Fry, Fremont, "A Moment's Rest"; Patricia Liebold, Clyde, "Cedar Waxwing"

SKY'S THE LIMIT:

1st:  Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Evening Reflections"

2nd:  Tim Wasserman, Fremont, "Picking Wildflowers at Spiegel Grove"

3rd:  Jacob Flores, Fremont, "Angelic Kitty"

4th:  Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Winter's Beauty"

5th:  Matt Hafley, Fremont, "South River Road"

HM:  Tyler Weaver, Fremont,"The Star Among Us"; Patricia Liebold, Clyde, "Woodland Visitor"; K. Sue Hauser, Fremont, "Peek-A-Boo"; Kate Pfefferle, Fremont, "Fall on the Farm"; Debra Caldwell, Clyde,"Legends"; Judy Empcke, Fremont, "Our House", Kay Biller, Fremont, "The Road"

2009 News-Messenger Calendar Photos
(Calendar available mid-November):

Cover:  Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Evening Reflections"

Jan:      Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Winter's Beauty"

Feb:     Jacob Flores, Fremont, "Angelic Kitty"

March: Mark Schrickel, Fremont, "Early Spring"

April:    Brandy Smith, Bowling Green, "Natural Beauty"

May:    Tim Wasserman, Fremont, "Picking Flowers at Spiegel Grove"

June:     Jacob Flores, Fremont, "Exhausted"

July:      Annette, Kluck, Fremont, "Sky High"

Aug:     Thomas Liskai, Helena,"Look Mister, You're Bothering Me"

Sept:    Thomas Liskai, Helena, "Love Our Buckeyes"

Oct:      Tim Wasserman,  Fremont, "Spiegel Grove in Fall"

Nov:     Jacob Flores, Fremont, "Still Passage"

Dec:     Kay Biller, Fremont, "Holly"

Scenes from the July 17 BEACH PARTY

Bike Trail Update

Bike Trail Construction Begins

The week of June 16th:

The week of June 23rd:

The week of June 30th:

The week of July 7th:

The week of July 21st:

The week of August 4th:

The week of August 25th:

Preparation for Sun, October 12 Grand Opening:

The Grand Opening on October 12th!

Ribbon Cutting In Elmore	Ribbon Cutting In Fremont
Ribbon Cutting In Lindsey	Waiting To Ride
Let's Ride!	Enjoying The Trail

PARK DISTRICT INFORMATION   (as of 1-26-09)

The Sandusky County Park District was created on December 7, 1973.

Park District’s ten facilities cover approximately 2200 acres and include White Star Park, Wolf Creek Park, Mull Covered Bridge, Blue Heron Reserve, Countryside Park, North Coast Inland Trail, Creek Bend Farm, Green Creek Twp Property, Shelley Wetlands, and Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area. Total park attendance is approx. 150,000 visitors per year with over 300 programs & presentations annually.

Parks open everyday, year-round, 8:00 a.m. - dark. Dogs must be on a leash. No snowmobiles, no alcoholic beverages. Cross country skiing permitted in all parks. Administrative Office at Countryside Park open M-F, 8:00am-4:30pm.

The Park District is governed by a three member volunteer Board of Park Commissioners who have been appointed by Probate Judge.

 (2009: Sharon Wilson, Jim Fails, Brad Lawrence)

Income: derived from 1 mill property tax levy, 10 year levy passed in 2007 which brings in $1,000,000. Additional income from user fees, grants, donations.

Public Programs are listed in newsletter "The Nutshell" available three times a year on website: www.sanduskycountyparks.com  or by calling the Office: 419-334-4495, toll free 1-888-200-5577.

Programs for Request are listed in "Nature's Classroom" and are available free of charge to classes, clubs & organizations in the Sandusky County area.

Reference Library - misc. reference books, activity ideas, field guides, videos, slide shows and teaching kits available for public use.

Grant Program - Started in 1990, up to $30,000 per year is used as grant money for parks and recreation in townships, cities, and villages in Sandusky County. Applications received in October, recommendations made by a three member panel of professionals from outside the county. Recipients are recognized by green and white Park District grant signs. Since its inception, over $421,000 has been provided for outdoor recreation improvements in neighborhood parks. Park District also provides technical assistance for park planning, playground safety, and programming.

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SANDUSKY COUNTY PARK DISTRICT (8-15-08)

• 1.0 Littering, dumping of garbage, sewage and noxious material is prohibited

• 1.4 Possession of aerosol paint containers is prohibited

• 2.0 Possession of firearms, weapons, and explosives of any type are permitted only within specially designated areas for specially designated purposes within the parks

• 3.0 Soliciting, unlawful sales, and advertising of commercial enterprises is prohibited

• 3.3 A special use permit from the Director is required for the sale of any articles by any business or commercial enterprise within the parks

• 4.0 Alcoholic beverages are prohibited within all areas of the parks

• 4.3 Obtaining, use of or possession of narcotics and other controlled substances are prohibited

• 5.0 Obscene or indecent acts or behavior are not permitted within the parks

• 6.0 Camping is permitted in designated areas only, and subject to the rules and regulations posted at that particular site

• 7.0 Fires are permitted only in picnic grills and fire rings provided for that purpose

• 8.0 Park hours are from 8:00 am to dark, except in campgrounds and areas where special permit has been granted

• 9.0 Hunting*, trapping, and the molesting of wildlife is prohibited within the parks. A non- collection policy including plants, flowers, fruits, leaves, rocks, minerals, etc. is in force in all parks.
  * Hunting is permitted only in specially designated areas for those sportsmen obtaining proper permission and adhering to established rules and regulations.

• 10.0 Pets must be kept on a leash, and not be left unattended. Attaching leashes to trees is prohibited

• 11.0 Boating is permitted subject to the statutes of the State of Ohio. Restrictions on size and power vary with locations

• 12.0 Non-registered motor vehicles may not be operated on any roadways within the parks

• 13.0 Traffic regulations pertaining to right-of-way, speed limits, parking, etc., shall be as posted

• 14.0 Sledding and skiing are permitted only in those areas which have been designated for that purpose

• 15.0 Swimming is permitted only at designated swimming areas and subject to all rules and regulations pertaining to that specific area

• 16.0 Possession of a permit is necessary for the use of many park facilities

• 17.0 Scuba diving is permitted only in those areas designated for that purpose and are subject to all rules and regulations pertaining to that specific area

• 18.0 Vandalism, defacement, destruction, removal or disturbance of park property is prohibited

• 19.0 Disorderly conduct is prohibited

• 19.3 Disturbing the Peace with a sound-producing device is prohibited

• 20.0 Unauthorized access or presence without proper permit shall be considered trespassing

• 21.0 All persons must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Sandusky County Park District and the laws of the State of Ohio, and comply with the orders of Park District Rangers

• 22.0 Smoking is prohibited in all Park District buildings and on the beach.