This pond and area at the Hartford Fairgrounds will become a natural resources park. (Photo by Virgil Shipley)

CROTON — A natural resources park is taking shape on the Hartford Fairgrounds, just north of Croton in Licking County. Several conservation groups are involved in building a four-acre park that will include a lake stocked with fish and a wetlands with a flowing stream. Goals for the park are to emphasize the importance of central Ohio’s natural resources and conservation of those resources; educate young people about natural resources; demonstrate conservation programs; and promote conservation practices.

The advisory board for the project includes members of the Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District, Licking Park District, Licking County Recycling & Litter Prevention, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Dawes Arboretum. This is the first year of the project, and the board has a goal of raising $100,00 to support the design and construction of the park.

Hartford Fair manager/secretary John McDavid said the goal is moving along to get the park ready for the 2006 Hartford Fair slated for Aug. 6-12. A pond that was already in place has been enlarged, walkways have been laid out with handicap access and a large open building for displays and presentations has been constructed. Other plans include building a floating dock and bridges and signage.

With this first stage completed, the natural resources partners can provide programming and hands-on activities that include fishing, wetland and stream ecology, habitat management and conservation practices.

The park will be an ongoing project, with the total area to be expanded. The fairgrounds has plenty of room to accommodate and expand the park. In 2005, the Hartford Fair board purchased 23 acres adjacent to the fairgrounds and just added 11 more acres. The entire grounds now encompasses 150 acres.

A wooded area that has been used for camping will also be included in the park.

McDavid added that although the project was scheduled for completion in two years, it is coming along faster than anticipated. Other parts of the park to be constructed are the wetlands and paving the paths, projects which are scheduled for next year.