The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks and Watercraft has recently been nominated as a finalist for the prestigious National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This acknowledgment, conferred by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), recognizes the pinnacle of public park systems across the United States.
"Ohio’s State Parks are truly a crown jewel of our state," Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. "We welcome visitors to come and see all our parks have to offer in Ohio, the Heart of it All." Buckeye State has found companies in Florida and Wyoming, and the other two finalists are contending in the award's state parks category this year. A panel of experienced park and recreation professionals selected Ohio based on criteria like long-range planning, community engagement, and the state's innovative approaches to environmental stewardship.
According to a statement from ODNR Director Mary Mertz, "Being named a Gold Medal Finalist is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our parks staff, volunteers, and partners who work every day to make the outdoors more welcoming, more accessible, and more enriching for all." Highlighting the state's dedication to inclusive and educational experiences, ODNR has spearheaded programs designed for the visually impaired and has made significant strides to ensure free entry for all to its 76 state parks.
ODNR's efforts have led to the creation of Great Council State Park, resulting from a partnership with the Shawnee, Eastern Shawnee, and Absentee Shawnee Tribes, who assisted with curating the park’s design and interpretive content. In its relative infancy, the new park has already drawn over 21,000 visitors and hosted nearly 4,000 program attendees. During the total solar eclipse last year, state parks witnessed a deluge of more than 150,000 visitors, converging to experience the LightSound initiative, which allowed individuals who are blind or have low vision to "hear" the celestial phenomenon.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has not only emphasized inclusion but has also leveraged visitor data, expanded safety training, and engaged in public-private partnerships to propel forward-thinking land stewardship. These initiatives show a clear trajectory towards fulfillment of ODNR’s objectives of conservation, education, not to mention recreation for the people of Ohio and beyond.
