CANTON ‒ Stark Parks has approved a new 10-year comprehensive plan, laying the groundwork for the next decade of park development.
The plan, which was prepared by the Stark County Regional Planning Commission, provides updated goals to reflect the community’s changing demographics. In drafting the plan, the park district held public sessions and conducted an online survey to discuss priorities for the park system with residents.
“This is the most important thing we can do to help set the direction of the parks,” Capital Projects and Planning Manager Sarah Buell said. “Our mission is to serve the public of Stark County, and we absolutely need to know what their expectations and hopes for the park are.”
Stark County residents are aging and households are getting smaller as a result. The park district believes these changes indicate that participation in outdoor recreation will increase.
Residents also are more educated compared to the past. Median household income has also grown considerably. These trends may also increase park traffic.
Popular outdoor activities in Ohio include using trails, wildlife observation and photography, and picnicking.
It’s the first time the park district has released a 10-year plan, having previously prepared five-year plans. Stark Parks decided to go with a longer term this time to help prepare for more grant and state funding opportunities.
The 2026-2035 plan also includes a new mission statement: “To enrich the quality of life in Stark County by conserving and connecting our natural and cultural resources, while providing meaningful recreation and education opportunities that bring value to everyone in our community.”
“This plan represents a roadmap for the future of Stark Parks,” Executive Director Dan Moeglin said in a statement. “It builds on our strong foundation while challenging us to think creatively about how we serve our community, protect our natural resources, and expand access to parks and programs for all.”
Here are six takeaways from Stark Parks’ new comprehensive plan:
Focus on park maintenance and development over acquisitions
Buell said one of the biggest shifts the park district has made over time is going from pursuing many acquisitions for expansion to putting more resources toward upgrades at existing parks.
“When we were younger, we were in growth mode. … We were less focused on developing each individual park because we were really looking at the overall network,” she said.
The bigger priority in the next decade is “taking care of what we have,” Buell said.
Any future acquisitions would be vetted to ensure that it is worth the large investment, future development and maintenance costs. Acquisitions should be focused on properties adjacent to existing parks or properties with larger acreage, according to the plan.
Stark Parks’ latest acquisition was Pike Ridge Park. In taking on those additional 500 acres, the park district decided not to renew its lease on former park Whitacre Greer in Carroll County.
“We felt that was a good trade,” Buell said. “It’s strategic.”
What’s planned at specific parks in Stark County?
Here’s a look at what’s planned for specific Stark Parks, according to the comprehensive plan:
Projects to improve accessibility remain priority
As the county continues to age, accessible recreation opportunities are becoming more important to residents.
Stark Parks has recently finished projects to pave some of its trails and add Americans with Disabilities Act compliant restrooms to park facilities.
Buell said the park district is aiming to add at least one accessible trail at each of its parks. At the same time, they’d like to offer many different options for different purposes.
“There are some people who prefer turf or dirt trails so they can walk their dogs, and there are some that prefer the crushed limestone paths because it is more comfortable to run on. From the accessibility standpoint, some people prefer that asphalt paved trail surface,” she said. “We’ve tried to offer different options for different user groups.”
Accessibility is a main priority for future trail expansions and facility upgrades, according to the plan. The park district allocates funding toward ADA improvements annually to accomplish this.
Public expresses safety concerns, asks for increased ranger presence
In the public survey and at planning meetings, Stark County residents said safety concerns were one of the biggest reasons they weren’t able to go to the parks as often as they’d like to. Many residents also asked for increased park ranger presence at parks and trails.
Additional ranger stations spread throughout the county may be needed to address these concerns, according to the plan.
Buell said ranger presence around Stark Parks has improved since demolishing the buildings at Molly Stark Park. The historic buildings had a history of break-ins.
Since tearing down the former hospital buildings, rangers have had more time to do patrols, Buell said.
“I think the public is going to see that,” she said. “There’s a lot more presence in the park and on the trails.”
Trail expansions and transportation improvements
Stark County residents continue the trend of moving to the suburbs. Some of the unincorporated areas, like Lake Township and Jackson Township, are the fastest-growing places in Stark County.
There is a need for more active transportation planning to connect parks and different parts of the county. Examples include bikeways or pedestrian paths.
The park district has built out a largely off-road trail network within Stark County. Future development opportunities could include road-sharing opportunities.
“We’re starting to explore some of those options. There are people who are trying to get from point A to point B, and the trail gets them just part of the way there. So how do we bridge those gaps?” Buell said. “Stark Parks doesn’t own the road, so that’s something that we really rely on our partners to work with us on.”
The park district also hopes to expand its relationship with the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority. Some ideas include adding trails and parks to bus route maps and adding bus service to the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park.
Open space conservation important for public health and safety
Stark Parks wants to look for opportunities to conserve land, particularly important habitats or places where development should be limited like floodplains, wetlands and water well fields.
These efforts promote public health and safety, according to the plan.
For example, Stark Parks has previously acquired flood-prone properties and restored them to their natural floodplain functions, which will continue.
The park district also will work with local governments and other conservation organizations such as The Wilderness Center and The Trust for Public Land.
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark Parks plans next decade with focus on development, accessibility
Reporting by Grace Springer, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
