ASHLAND — Work is underway at Ashland County’s newest park, according to Ashland County Park District (ACPD) director Stephanie Featheringill.
The planned improvements for the Tom Kruse Wildlife Conservation Park in Montgomery Township began last week when a small fishing pond was drained.
Volunteers worked to catch and relocate the fish to other APCD parks so the pond can be enhanced and made into a new catch-and-release fishing pond. Fish will be added later when the project is complete.
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.
In December 2019, the ACPD acquired a 120-acre tract of land through a State of Ohio’s Clean Ohio grant, where the Ashland County Commissioners had received approximately $660,000 to fund its transfer.
Approximately 80 acres consists of meadows, a wooded ravine and a pond. This is the new park. The other 40 acres — located across County Road 1754 — directly adjoin Byers Woods and will become part of that existing park.
“This park will provide public access for fishing, hiking, bird watching, nature study and more,” Featheringill said in December, adding the land is “ideally located near the heart of Ashland County just six miles southeast of the city of Ashland.”
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