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Park and Trail Alerts and Closures

Burn Ban

The State Fire Marshall has issued a Burn Ban for Greene County until further notice.  This burn ban impacts all GCP&T facilities, including campsites in these parks:

Examples of outdoor activities prohibited by the marshal’s order in the ban area include the following:

  • Campfires
  • Bonfires
  • Lighting or maintaining a fire of any type at any location
  • Smoking (including cigarettes or similar devices, and as part of a cooking process)
  • Non-electric cooking (regardless of fuel source)
  • Using or discharging any type of fireworks
  • Throwing down/discarding lighted or smoldering material (including matches or cigarettes)
  • Flame effect(s) based displays or exhibitions (including sky lanterns and cold spark machines)
  • Using spark causing devices for recreational purposes

GCP&T parks and campgrounds are not closed, but this ban may impact your ability to use the facilities as planned. While outdoor burning will not be permitted, our parks will continue to offer great outdoor recreational opportunities.

Caesar Ford Park

Park Closures
The entire park will be closed (except as noted):
  • September 12 – 14
  • September 28
  • October 5 (holes 1 & 18)
  • October 11 (2-11pm)
  • October 12 (2-10 pm)
  • October 23 – 28
  • November 11 – January 3, 2025
Horse parking area

All horse trailer parking will be at the new parking lot on New Jasper Station Road effective immediately.

NOTE: intermittent closures may occur during campground construction.

Total Solar eclipse 2024

April 8, 2024 | Greene County, Ohio

Most GCP&T parks will be within the path of totality starting at 3:10pm EDT on Monday, April 8, 2024. See interactive Greene County map below.

When you visit, please remember:
  • Alcohol is prohibited
  • To properly dispose of all trash in receptacles
  • To park only in designated spaces
 
Greene County Parks and Trails logo on black eclipse background
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Total Eclipse of the Park! Pre‑Eclipse Party

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Russ Nature Reserve

This FREE event is no ordinary tailgating experience! Bring out the whole family and join us as we learn about the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse! The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806, the next total solar eclipse in Ohio will be in the year 2099! There will be games, crafts and more!

family wearing eclipse glasses

Camping Information

Primitive camping is limited to the five parks with designated spaces only:

 5. Jacoby Road Canoe Launch
19. Old Town Reserve
22. Narrows Reserve
23. Mill Bridge Launch
25. Constitution Park

 

Change is coming! To provide the best customer service possible, we will be upgrading our reservation/registration system in 2024. This new system will allow you to:

  • Create your own account that will let you review and manage your activities and rentals.
  • Re-print your own receipts and permits.
  • Set up auto-pay plans.
  • …and so much more!

We will be shutting down our current system at the end of December so that we can transfer all current rentals and 2024 program registrations to the new system.

Of course we have some learning to do, so please be patient. As a result, our 2024 programming will be released a little later than usual. We are excited to provide you with a better online experience and we appreciate your patience as we work through all this.

The campground at Caesar Ford Park is tentatively scheduled to open in spring of 2024 following the completion of Phase 1. Bookings have not been opened yet, but will be announced on this page and social media.

  • Phase 1 includes 12 full hookup camping sites, picnic shelter, and shower house
  • Phase 2 will include several primitive camping sites

 
Caesar Ford Park Camping Page

The use of confetti/glitter is prohibited.

Permit holders are responsible for clean-up including, but not limited to: disposal of trash into trash receptacles, removal of decorations caused by rental activities.

Excessive trash left in a shelter after a reservation is prohibited. We suggest you bring a broom and extra trash bags. Please be sure to place ALL trash in trash receptacles, tie up trash bags if overflowing to keep trash from blowing around the park, and leave shelter clean upon your departure or a fine will be imposed.

The use of tape, nails, screws, or staples are not permitted on light poles, walls or the pavilion structure.

Any and all arts and crafts done will REQUIRE table coverings. Permit holder will be required to pay for all damages, losses, and costs associated with excessive clean up and repairs.

Permit applicants should be aware that the shelter is located within a public park. Shelter rental does not guarantee the restricted use of green space, parking lot, portable toilet, or any other amenity at the park.

No vehicles are permitted on the grass or sidewalks.

Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all parks.

Inflatables will be permitted on a case-by-case basis. Please call the main office for approval.

No refunds for cancellations within 30 days of event; a processing fee of ten $10.00 dollars will be retained if cancelled before 30 days. Weather is not considered a valid reason for cancellations.

 

Download Shelter Rules (PDF)

More information on Facility Rentals

Delicious recipes cooked over an open flame in a park environment? Where can you cook a 3-course meal for two for $25 with a trained chef in a fun park setting? Well, Caesar Ford Park of course!

Thanks for all of your support through our 2021 cooking series. You helped make our 4-part series so popular that we decided to offer a 5th in September! It was wonderful to spend 5 fun-filled evenings with you at Caesar Ford Park learning new recipes, dusting off cooking skills, sharing delicious food, and making new friends!

Ranger Fouts (AKA Chef Tim) along with his sous-chefs Darrell and Jason, enjoyed having the opportunity to serve you in a whole new way while showing off some of their culinary talents. The theme nights were a big hit and we’re already thinking about what to include in 2022! For those of you not able to attend, here were our theme nights this year.

 

See the Asian Fusion recipe book from 2021:

Stay tuned for the 2022 Open Fire Cooking series!

We'd love to hear from you...if you attended and have feedback about the events or even if you would like to help us kick-start our programming ideas/themes for next year. Check out our survey below!

Reprinted with permission from The Daily Gazette (Xenia, OH), November 13, 2020

WESTERVILLE — Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) recently named Greene County Parks & Trails (GCP&T) the winner of two first place awards.

As part of the association’s 2020 Annual Awards of Excellence, GCP&T won first place in the Law Enforcement Programs & Events category for its Trail Sentinel Program with the Ranger Division.

The Trail Sentinel Program was established more than 15 years ago to serve the community on the county’s bike path trails.

Eighteen volunteers receive ongoing training from rangers, including in the areas of CPR, bike safety and maintenance, and crime prevention. The group focuses on the patrons and the trail users’ experience. They are the direct line of public contact as they patrol the trails, streamlining communications from the community to the correct correspondent, according to an OPRA release.

Trail sentinels act as ambassadors for GCP&T, as well as host several rides throughout the year.

The local parks division also won a first place award in the Capital Improvement Project (up to $1 million) category for the restoration of Pearl’s Fen located off Byron Road in Fairborn.

Pearl’s Fen was originally recognized in the 1980s for its uniqueness as a mound fen. At the time, it was only known to local botanists. The fen was purchased by the Nature Conservancy in early 2000. With the help of a Clean Ohio Grant, GCP&T gained ownership of the fen.

Work on the project started with the partnership with the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association, and co-director Dave Nolin. Not only did this protect the head waters of the Beaver Creek, it also gained region-wide focus with the Source Water Protection Program. The location is now available to the public with an access connector to the Oakes Quarry Park. There is also a unique “floating” boardwalk that goes right over the head waters.

“You and your family can visit this park all year long and always have something to discover!” parks officials said.

Full bloom of native plants is peak in late August to mid-September, attracting photographers and nature enthusiasts to the fen. Educators also make use of the fen, which is full of natural flora and wildlife.

The OPRA Annual Awards of Excellence will be presented at a banquet hosted by the association on April 28, 2021 at the Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky. One first place award winner will be presented with the 2020 Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation, a “best-in-show” award which includes a $500 contribution to the parks and recreation foundation of the agency winner.

“Parks and recreation professionals throughout Ohio work every day to improve the quality of life of the people they serve,” said OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward. “This effort is a shining example of that kind of work, and we are pleased to be able to present this award.”

The awards are judged by a panel of parks and recreation professionals from around Ohio.

© 2020 AIM Media Midwest Operating, LLC.

 

 

 

 

You can financially support GCP&T by donating through Greene Giving. Here’s how:

  1. Visit their online donation form
  2. Add your donation amount
  3. Choose “Specific account/charity”
  4. Specify “GCP&T” as shown below
  5. Then complete your contact information.

VISIT FORM

 

 

 

 

Greene County, Ohio – Saturday, February 6th

Charles E. Dressler (Ed) passed away at the age of 82 on January 9th, 2021. The funeral has been scheduled for February 6th, 2021 at Jackson Lytle Lewis Funeral Home, 322 West Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, OH from 11am – 1pm. With COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations in mind, the service will be private due to limited seating.

Following the celebration of life, the procession line, led by the Greene County Parks & Trails Ranger division, will be utilizing the Little Miami Scenic Trail portion of the bike way in between Yellow Springs and Xenia, ending at his final resting place at Woodland Cemetery in Xenia, Ohio. The bike trail will not be closed during this time, but we are asking any patrons to be mindful during this time and to please stop to the side. “Using the bike path just makes sense in honor of the father of the bike paths,” said Jon Dobney, GCPT Director.

All are welcome to be part of the procession to Woodland Cemetery-Xenia, traveling on the bike trails Ed created. The procession will be getting on the trails at Grinnell Road and will be getting off at Old Springfield Pike, led by the Greene County Park Rangers. The service will be livestreamed on the Jackson Lytle and Lewis Life Celebration Center Facebook page, starting promptly at 1:00 pm. Guests who still want to be part of the procession may watch the service from your vehicles. (There is public wifi available in Yellow Springs that you may connect to in order to stream the service without data). We will be preparing to begin the procession around 2:20 pm. A walk-through visitation will be open to all beginning at 11:00 am, but please understand we will be limiting the amount of guests in the building at one time. Please follow proper social distancing guidelines and facial coverings are mandatory. Thank you for your cooperation.

A proposal to dedicate a portion of the Greene County bike path in Ed’s memory is in consideration.

 

 

 

Join the GCP&T Trail Sentinels for a moonlight ride along the region’s bike trails. GCP&T Trail Sentinels are an elite volunteer group who patrol the trails and coordinate several cycling events. All night riders must be 18 and older, wear a helmet and have lights on their bikes. Rides will be cancelled in the event of a thunderstorm. Incentives will be offered to those participants who complete 132 or 265 available miles.

During the COVID-19 situation, we ask all riders to space apart at least 6-10 feet, wear masks, and avoid physical contact.

Registration requested, walk-ins welcome. For more information, call 937-562-6440.

2020 Cycling Events

D

Apr 18

Old Town Reserve to Young's Dairy (CANCELLED DUE TO COVID)

18 miles

E

May 16

Xenia Station to Fifth-Third Gateway Park (CANCELLED DUE TO COVID)

20 miles

F

May 30

Xenia Station to McDonald’s, Jamestown (CANCELLED DUE TO COVID)

22 miles

A

June 13

24 miles

B

June 27

14 miles

C

July 11

17 miles

A

Sep 12

24 miles

B

Sep 26

14 miles

C

Oct 10

17 miles

GCP&T headquarters and all parks and playgrounds are open to guests. Office hours are 8am-4pm.

Please call 937-562-6440 with any questions.

Contact Michelle Jenkins

Contact Amy Salser

Contact Greene County Parks

Contact Wade Beam

Contact Darrell Hannah

Contact Chuck Frazier

Contact Rick Inman

Contact Ashlee Schmitt

Contact Robin Gregory

Contact Greene County Parks & Trails

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