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Eidson Woods Preserve
officially opened
Darke County Parks...
Darke County Park District opened its newest park, Eidson Woods
Preserve, on Saturday, April 16th. Despite the cold, windy and
rainy day there was a great turnout for the ribbon cutting
ceremony.
The day began at 8am with a bird hike sponsored by the Darke County
Birders Club. At 10am, the Darke County Parks’ Junior Naturalists
worked to remove invasive plant species, pick up roadway trash and
beautify this new park. At 1pm a ribbon cutting ceremony was held
in memory of Sallie Eidson Cotes, whose hope it was to preserve this
diverse piece of property for decades to come.
In attendance at the grand opening was Honorable Judge Julie Monnin,
Municipal Court Judge, Honorable Judge Jason Aslinger, Probate Court
Judge, State Representative, Jim Buchy, Darke County Park Board
Commissioner, Daniel C. Schipfer and family members of Sallie Eidson
Cotes, David Cotes and daughter Cindie Lanham.
Park District Director Roger M. Van Frank stated, “This is truly
another example of how the Darke County Community continues to
lead in the preservation of lands important to the natural and cultural
history of Darke County.”
Consisting of 55 acres of maturing woodland and 15 acres of
intermediate succession savannah, Eidson Woods offers an excellent
range of habitats and species of interest. There are several tree
species with significant age, including several ancient American
Sycamores and White Oaks. The forest floor is awash with native
woodland wildflowers and woodland frogs can be heard in the
spring. Kraut creek, a pristine tributary of state designated
Scenic River Greenville Creek runs along the Western edge of the
woods. Within the forest is a button-bush swamp, commonly
associated with high quality wetlands.
This is a truly unique park that provides a feast for the senses in all
seasons and should be visited often. The park is easily
accessible from Ohio Route 502 West and Palestine-Union City
Road. Call the Nature Center for directions or more information
on the newest addition at 937-548-0165.
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