Parks around Hancock County are our backyards, or the backwoods to explore, all close to home. As youngsters we were told to "go out and play!"  While we thought it was to just pass the time, the outdoors became special places to have fun, learn and enjoy activities of all kinds. Hancock Parks continue this tradition all seasons of the year with benefits we may never have imagined.

Fun for Family and Friends
Creating memories together throughout the week is an important part of our quality of life. Visit the parks with the kids, grandkids or neighbors for some new adventures or just a quiet walk.
     - Playgrounds for all ages and abilities at most parks.
     - Fishing the reservoirs, lakes at Oakwoods and Riverbend.
     - Primitive campgrounds at Riverbend Recreation Area.
     - Riverside Landing Boat Rentals and Tractor Pulled Hayrides.
     - Running free at the Riverbend's K-9 Field of Dreams Dog Park

Fitness & Healthful Alternatives
     - Fresh air and exercise in the parks are just steps from your front door or car.
     - Trails such as the 20-mile Heritage Trail and Blanchard River Greenway for walking, hiking, jogging and even riding horses.
     - Bicycling the routes around the county and paths along the river.
     - Outdoor fitness equipment at Centennial Park, roller blading paved paths or try snowshoes and cross-country skiing at Riverbend's Raccoon Run Winter Sports Concession.
     - Help fight obesity, keep a healthy heart and be fit for life.

Lifetime Skills
     - Workshops with skilled crafts people offer outdoor opportunities to enrich our lives with hobbies to last a lifetime, with volunteers welcome for projects and programs anytime.
     - Photographers showcase talents at annual HPD Photo Contest
     - Quilting, spinning and pioneer skills workshops.
     - For beginners or pro's - the 2-mile Riverbend Disc Golf Trail.
     - Gardening and landscaping for the parks or your home.

Outdoor Classrooms
     - Students of all ages, pre-school thru adult education, can meet the "professionals" at Park    
     - District events to expand their learning potential.
     - Park programs on seasonal nature topics, living history.
     - Learn about our watershed and the environment.
     - Scout badge days, school field trips for Maple Sugaring Program, History Comes Alive and student projects to help their studies and the parks.
Help for Our Local Economy
     - Close to home activities are smart trips to save energy as well as our own resources. Parks are investments in our quality of life. They are destination attractions for area residents and of interest to new businesses and their employee families.
     - Each $1 dollar spent in parks and recreation locally turns over an estimated three times through local businesses in sales and services.
     - Homeowners near parks have higher value locations, complete with scenery and activities close by.

Where To Find the Parks
     - Signs point the way to Hancock Parks, open dawn to dark daily, including:
     - Riverbend Recreation Area near the Findlay Reservoirs
     - Old Mill Stream Parkway river parks with sportsmen's access
     - Discovery Center at Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Community Parks in cities and villages include sport fields, swimming pools, tennis courts and much more, with various support services provided on request to the Park District for all Hancock County communities including:
     - Findlay Parks, Bluffton and Fostoria Parks within Hancock County
     - Arcadia, Arlington, Benton Ridge, Jenera, McComb, Mt. Blanchard, Mt. Cory, Rawson, Van Buren / Allen Township and Vanlue.
     - Parks Levy funds help repairs and improvements to community parks while local park boards fund operations and maintenance.

Trail maps, visitor guides and activity schedules are available from the Park District on most bulletin boards near park entrances, HPD Office at 1424 E. Main Cross Street Findlay, or online at www.HancockParks.com.

Parks Levy March 4
All these benefits and more are part of the parks system. The current Hancock Park District levy that operates and maintains the parks expires in 2008 and must be replaced starting January 2009. The Board of Park Commissioners is requesting voters in this March 4 Primary Election to continue the same 0.8 tenths millage for another eight (8) years. Further information on the "Parks Levy" is available from our volunteer group, Hancock Friends of the Parks and online at www.HancockParks.com.