The Licking Park District has announced a series of projects focused on conservation, infrastructure improvements, and sustainability across its parks and trails.
On June 24, the district signed a conservation easement agreement with the Licking Land Trust for property at 11007 Staddens Bridge Road in Newark, the future site of Heron’s Point at Staddens Landing Park. The easement will protect open space, wildlife, native plants, and the river corridor. At the same time, the district is preparing a NatureWorks Grant application to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to fund a vault-style restroom facility at the new park.
The district also signed a contract with Paradise Energy Solutions to install solar panels on the southern roof of the James Bradley Center at Infirmary Mound Park. Go Green Granville will finance half of the project. The center hosts recreational and educational programming and is available for rent.
Repairs are planned for the TJ Evans Trail Bridge in Alexandria. Claggett & Sons Inc. will complete abutment repairs on the west side of the bridge, with work scheduled to begin no later than September 1 unless delayed by weather or stream depth. The contractor will have 10 days to finish the project. In 2025, the bridge decking was replaced.
Streambank stabilization is also planned for the TJ Evans Trail in Granville, just west of Vill Edge Drive. V3 Construction has been selected to design and build a plan to address the streambank slip along Raccoon Creek, an area prone to repeated slips.
Tree work is scheduled for the Panhandle Trail, which runs more than eight miles from Dayton Road to Felumlee Road. A local contractor will remove 78 hazard trees and trim hazard branches from 54 others identified along the trail. Beginning July 3 and continuing for two weeks, the Panhandle Trail will experience periodic closures as the tree service contractor completes work.
Trail status updates also note that equestrian riders are welcome at Infirmary Mound Park, Lobdell Reserve, and Taft Reserve, with a reminder to keep parking lots clean. Visitors are encouraged to check the Trail Hotline at 740-349-4823, Facebook, or the website before heading out. Email and text alerts are available by contacting [email protected].
