WELCOME TO THE HERITAGE
TRAILS PARK DISTRICT
PARK STORIES
Progress Report for Heritage Trails Park District
(By: Administrative Assistant Terry McDonald)
Heritage Trails Park District has been moving forward in leaps & bounds during the past year, fueling our mission to create and preserve park lands in Auglaize County for conservation, leisure and educational purposes for everyone to enjoy. Our park district is currently comprised of six areas of park lands in Auglaize County, Ohio, including Lock 14 Park, Deep Cut Historical Park, Bloody Bridge Trail Head, Dr. Elizabeth Yahl-Kuffner Nature Preserve, eight miles of Towpath Trail along the Miami Erie Canal, and the future site of the E.J. Mackenbach Preserve.
In 2024, Heritage Trails Park District acquired the E.J. Mackenbach Preserve, approximately 70 acres of historic property just north of St. Marys, Ohio. This preserve features 34 acres of woodland, 36 acres of fields and amazing views of the Miami Erie Canal. Plans are in place to restore the agricultural fields to wetland and meadow habitats, with plantings
A tale of a lovers quarrel, and murder. Visitors say they can see the ghostly images of a headless man walking along the bridge at sundown, and drowned woman in the canal below. Making the Bloody Bridge a notorious attraction for those who seek the paranormal.
EVENTS
Heritage Trails Park District & the St. Marys Community Public Library invite you to a Gardener’s Swap and Share on Wednesday, May 14th. Beginning at 6:00 p.m., meet at the St. Marys Library parking lot area with your plant divisions and miscellaneous garden plants to swap and share with others. Then join us for a presentation at 7:00 p.m. given by Alicia Lensch of Forage Gardens, who will talk about “Landrace Seeds and Gardening.” Learn about selectively saving seeds, sharing seeds, purchasing from multiple cold climate sources, and not babying plants.
Representatives from the St. Marys Garden Club will be available to answer your gardening questions and you can share your own gardening tips and tricks. Learn about local farmer’s markets. Enter a drawing for a chance to win a prize.
The Gardener’s Swap and Share continues all week, from May 12th to May 17th. During St. Marys Library hours, a plant swap cart will be stationed near the entrance of the library to swap or share your potted seedlings, plants
WELCOME TO THE HERITAGE
TRAILS PARK DISTRICT
Founded in 1996, the Heritage Trails Park District currently protects more than 40 acres of land and water in Auglaize County, and offers year-round recreational and educational opportunities for youth and adults.
The Park District also strives to offer a variety of educational, recreational and historic programs. Participation and involvement is strongly encouraged. Please contact us if your are interested in volunteering.
