Editor’s Note: This is one story in a series highlighting the Ashland County Park District’s 18 parks.
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP — The Ashland County Park District’s newest park has lots of potential, according to ACPD director Stephanie Featheringill.
The Tom Kruse Wildlife Conservation Park will feature a catch-and-release fishing pond and trails leading into the woods and along a ravine.
“We have it mapped out and have started constructing the ravine trail,” Featheringill said. “And the pond right now is completely drained of water.”
The fish were caught and moved to other ponds throughout the district temporarily while a company improves the pond.
Other improvements to the new park at the intersection of State Route 60 and County Road 1754 will include a handicap accessible fishing pier, a paved trail, a parking lot near an existing gazebo and possibly a mountain bike trail.
For now, those interested in visiting the new park could walk through a field or bird watch from the gazebo, Feathergill suggested.
Tom Kruse Park was acquired by the ACPD in December 2019 through a State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio grant, where the Ashland County Commissioners had received approximately $660,000 to fund its transfer.
Eighty acres of this property became the new park, and another 40 acres — located across County Road 1754 — directly adjoined to Byers Woods became part of that existing park.
