The Marion County Park District has been in existance since 1995.  Currently we oversee 5 different park properties in various stages of development for passive recreation opportunities for our community and visitors.

The most exciting project we are embarking upon is the purchase and conversion of a 12 mile abandoned rail corridor currently owned by CSX transportation.  This two line corridor emanates from on the west bank of the Little Scioto River off Holland Road on the west side of Marion.  This road is accessible from SR 309.  The line then travels west to the Hardin County line.  In the first mile, which we call Phase I in the project development , will be the trailhead as well as an adapted recreation park.  At the end of the first mile which crosses Herr Road (intersected on each end with SR 95 on the south and SR 309 on the north) the trail passes by a 50 acre pond that we would like to purchase and incorporate into the park for handicapped accessible fishing.  The two abandoned rail lines converge to one line in the second mile. Miles 3 & 4 pass through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife, Big Island Wildlife area.  Here bald eagles and trumpeter swans make their home as well as numerous other forms of wildlife.  This trail and the wildlife area also lies in the former Sandusky Plains Tallgrass Prairie.  The park district and volunteers will be restoring pure genotype prairie plants along the length of the corridor.  ODNR has also offered their support in either constructing a bird observation deck on the corridor overlooking the Big Island Wildlife area or installing interpretive signage for flora and fauna along the way.

In 2006 the park district wrote and was awarded over $450,000 in grant monies for this project and currently are in the process of raising our matching funds which will be about $105,000.  We could really use your help in either donating funds or finding corporate sponsors.  This is a big project that we WILL accomplish but at present we only have a part-time park director spearheading this project. 

Be a part of helping build Marion County's first recreational trail. 

Remember: County parks are naturally fun and naturally wild!  Walk/ride the wild side with us.