FREDERICKTOWN — “It’s spectacular,” Fredericktown Recreation District Director Bill Whaley said as he looked over the edge of a cliff into a river valley where the eastern branch of the Kokosing River can barely be heard and seen, as sunlight reflects on the surface.

The quiet 43 acres is being purchased by the Fredericktown Recreation District for park land. Everywhere visitors turn there is a different view of trees, plants, water and wildlife. Ravines and valleys can be seen from trails lined with wild berries and trillium.

On a hot and humid day, the canopy of trees keeps the temperature in the woods cooler, while breezes rustle the leaves high above.

“We have every variety of tree here you can imagine,” Whaley said as he pointed out sycamores, hard maples, soft maples and cherry trees. Fruit and dogwood trees are everywhere, and Whaley said he has seen three different species of oak so far.

“That tall one there is a swamp oak,” he said pointing at a huge, perfectly straight-trunked tree. “Those are really slow growing.”

A little farther up the trail he points out a giant Catalpa. Picking a 12-inch-long seed pod that resembles a long bean pod off the tree, Whaley said the trees are also known as cigar trees because of the long pods. Hickory, locust, aspen and elder line the trails; and, of course, there are lots of buckeyes.

The land was a homesite until its recent sale to the park district. The large house with floor-to-ceiling windows nestles in the woods, and will now be used as an education center.

“We’ll offer birding classes,” Whaley said. “The Scouts and schools will be able to do things here. The park offices will be here, and a classroom. It will have a lot of uses.”

The land borders the Fredericktown Community Park at Sockman Lake. Whaley said the parcel, combined with the 27 acres at Community Park, will create a 70-acre park land, all of which was originally part of Struble’s Gravel Pit.

“The old gravel pit was abandoned in the early fifties,” he said. “This joins what was originally split back together, when the land for the original park was purchased.”

Looking over one of the ravines, the tall cottonwood trees at Sockman Lake are visible. As Whaley walked around the property, he explained some of the possibilities that have been imagined for the park.

“We’ll have picnic tables over here,” he said, pointing. “How wonderful that would be for a family picnic.”

At the highest point overlooking the river valley, about 75 feet above the Kokosing River, park district officials would like to build a gazebo or pavilion that could be used for outdoor weddings.

“Can you imagine having that for a wedding?” Whaley asked, looking at the woods and the river below. “How awesome would that be?”

Education will play a big part in the plans for the new park land. According to Whaley, in addition to the river, the land contains a pond and wetlands.

“The north branch and the east branch of the Kokosing converge on this property,” he explained, adding that it will be a perfect place for river studies.

Parks volunteer Dean McCament, who teaches college nature classes, said the education possibilities are exciting.

“It would be a perfect outdoor classroom for young people,” he said. “There are fox and raccoon, anything you can imagine.”

Deer trails can be seen in some of the ravines, and every color and shape of bird seems to be living here.

“Just about every species of bird in the area will be in this park because of the trees and the water,” Whaley said.

Birders will be drawn to the quiet trails to catch glimpses of their favorites, as well as species they may not have previously been able to spot.

McCament said he recently brought a friend of his who is an ornithology professor at Kent State to see the new park land. His friend agreed the birding opportunities make the land a special place.

“This will bring some tourism to town, and we will have an information kiosk to tell visitors what’s going on around town,” Whaley said, adding the district is planning to create primitive camping facilities on the land someday.

Whaley said the land is being purchased with the help of Susan Ramser and Ramser Arboretum, while the recreation district raises the necessary funds through grants.

“They are holding it until we can arrange the grant money. We are pursuing grants at every level, federal and state,” he said.

Whaley said the generosity of the Ramsers helped make the new park possible. “They are very community-minded. They’ve done this for other parks in the county, and we really appreciate it,” he said.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Whaley of the purchase. “We talked about this land years ago, how nice it would be to have this. And then the opportunity came up. How special is that, that we’ll have a 70-acre park within 2 1/2 blocks of downtown? The possibilities are endless, and the whole thing will invent itself over time.

“It would have gone to development to be split into lots with super homes,” he added. “It would have been lost to the wildlife then. It’s a real gift to the community.”

Hoping to open the new park next year, a lot of work and fundraising remain to be done. But Whaley said the investment of money, time and work will be well worth it.

Whaley said education, recreation and health are three things the new park will offer visitors.

“With parks, the benefits really are endless, they truly are,” he said.