Editor’s Note: In the coming weeks, Ashland Source will highlight some of the few places that remain open to the public — the Ashland County Parks District’s 18 parks. So long as individuals maintain appropriate social distancing, people may enjoy the outdoors, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a March press conference.
ASHLAND — Prior to becoming one of the Ashland County Park District’s most popular family parks, Byers Woods operated as a landfill for 26 years.
Initially, 180-acres of farmland, the property was bought by Ashland County in 1971 to become the Ashland County Landfill, which continued service through 1997.
In 2004, the property, located at 675 County Road 1754, became a park operated by the Ashland County Parks District through a 99-year lease. The park grew by another 40 acres of grasslands in December 2019 with a Clean Ohio grant.
The park features more than three miles of hiking trails, a paved trail and four catch-and-release-only fishing ponds.
Two of the ponds are located near the paved trail, and at least one is handicap accessible. The ponds also attract photographers, who may be interested in snapping a shot of the dragonflies.
Byers Woods is also an ideal to spot butterflies, mice and birds, including grassland nesting birds like the endangered bobolink.
“More than 160 bird species have been identified there,” Ashland County Park District director Stephanie Featheringill said.
The park’s diverse landscape factors into this. There are 50 acres of hardwood forest, grasslands and marshy swamps.
In 2018, the park district added the paved trail, a pavilion and playground. The playground is currently closed, per orders from Gov. Mike DeWine to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Last week, an ADA compliant, double vault restroom was added, too. It’s located near the barn and the parking lot, Featheringill said.
“It’s that last piece to make it a complete family atmosphere,” Featheringill said.
Byers Woods was chosen for these amenities and increased investments over the past few years because of its location.
“It’s close to Ashland city, maybe five miles south, centrally located in the county, and it had the space and the atmosphere for the amenities,” Featheringill said. “And we saw Freer Field was extremely popular, and this could be an alternative location.”
Still located in the middle of Byers Woods, remains the 50-acre landfill mounds. They are fenced off, and the public is not permitted to access them, per restrictions from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA ordered this portion of the park to stay closed off until at least 2030. At that time, it will be re-evaluated.
Byers Woods is named for late State Representative Eugene Byers and longtime Ashland County Commissioner Marilyn Byers.
The Ashland County Chapter of Pheasants Forever maintains a portion of this park.
