DANVILLE — The Knox County Park District is 102 acres richer. Kris Pohlman, director, announced Thursday the successful acquisition of a property located along Walhonding Road near the confluence of the Kokosing and Mohican rivers. Visitors to the site will be able to “get away from it all,” and enjoy passive recreational activities such as canoeing and hiking in a somewhat rustic and remote area. No recreational structures such as ball diamonds will be built, Pohlman said, but fishing and limited hunting will be permitted.
The park district will be working to restore the riparian buffer zone along the river, planting trees to hold the soil and prevent erosion, improve the water quality and restore habitat for some threatened, rare or endangered species of fish and mollusks. The types of trees planted will be native Ohio species such as black walnut, sycamore, cottonwood, willow and swamp oak. Where appropriate, wetland flora will also be reintroduced. Pohlman is especially excited that the reforestation will restore nesting sites for the endangered bald eagles which have been sighted in the area.
A portion of the property will be used for agriculture education in cooperation with the Ohio State Extension Office. Pohlman envisions field plots that will demonstrate environmentally friendly farming practices and highlight emerging “green technology” for agriculture.
Surrounded by a number of known archeological sites, arrowheads and other Native American artifacts such as tools have been discovered on the newly purchased acreage. Those items, Pohlman said, can be used to stimulate discussions about the area’s history and cultural background.
Pohlman said this newest Knox County park area would not be available for citizens to enjoy without the partners who made the purchase possible: Ramser Arboretum, the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the resolutions of support from both Knox and Coshocton county commissioners.
For more information about the Knox County Park District’s parks, trails and other programs log onto www.knoxcountyparks.org.