In 2025, Medina County Park District proudly celebrates 60 years of enhancing the quality of all life through education, conservation and the protection of natural resources. Established on April 19, 1965, the park district has become a beloved community resource, offering residents and visitors access to more than 22 park sites, over 50 trails and a variety of educational programs that inspire people of all ages to connect with nature. Over the decades, the park district has emerged as a leader in conservation, successfully acquiring and managing nearly 9,000 acres of protected land.
“We are incredibly proud to reach this milestone and are deeply grateful to the residents of Medina County who have supported our mission over the years,” says MCPD Director Nathan Eppink. “This anniversary is not just a celebration of the past 60 years but a commitment to preserving our natural spaces for generations to come.”
To honor this milestone, the park district has planned a series of celebratory events and activities throughout the year, and a number of new park areas and amenities will be opening to the public.
Park Perks Challenge
Celebrate MCPD’s 60th anniversary by taking part in the Park Perks Challenge. This is a self-guided adventure where you will need to successfully complete challenges to collect perk points to earn park prizes. Challenge yourself across three categories: Research It, Seek and Find, and See You There — all designed to help you explore and learn about Medina County parks.
Prizes will be awarded at four different levels based on the number of park perk points achieved. The more points you collect, the more prizes you’ll get! Prize value increases with point values. The challenge officially began on April 19 and runs through October 4. Download the form at MedinaCountyParks.com. Hard copies are available at the nature centers or park headquarters.
Here’s a glimpse of some exciting capital projects planned for 2025:
Rivendell Nature Preserve
Westfield Center and Westfield Township
This 203-acre property was donated to the park district in 2022. Phase 1 of the nature preserve will open September 20 and 21 with parking, trails, restrooms, a fishing pond and more.
Shotwell Gardens at Lake Medina
Medina Township
Over several years, the Shotwell family donated 25 acres at the corner of Foote and Weymouth roads. Phase 1 of this new entrance to Lake Medina will open in October.
Zachary A. Weber Riverside Park
Liverpool Township
MCPD will open its newest park on July 4 in Valley City on land that was recently donated in memory of a young Buckeye High School graduate who passed away unexpectedly last May. The first phase of Zachary A. Weber Riverside Park — the district’s 23rd open area — will include a small parking lot, open-air picnic shelter, seating and great views of the Rocky River as it flows north through Liverpool Township.
Liverpool Meadows Nature Preserve
Liverpool Township
This will be the second park district site to open in Liverpool Township in 2025. This 104-acre preserve will open by year’s end, featuring a one-mile aggregate loop trail and views of the Rocky River.
Chippewa Lake Park
Lafayette Township
Phase 1 of public access to the former amusement park property will open this fall. It will feature approximately one mile of aggregate trail, restrooms and a picnic shelter. The trailhead will be built next to a house the park district is leasing to the Chippewa Lake Historical Society, which will establish a small museum there.
As the largest inland natural lake in Ohio, Chippewa Lake is the sparkling blue jewel of Medina County. This 330-acre body of water was formed by natural processes as glaciers receded from the landscape some 14,000 years ago.
It’s easy to see why visitors have been drawn to its shores since the first settlers arrived in the area. The pull of its glassy waters remains strong for anglers, boaters and especially those who need a retreat from the daily grind to be refreshed by the lake breeze and picture-postcard views.
Many who have never heard of Medina County have heard of Chippewa Lake. From 1878 to 1978, it was the site of an amusement park — with rides, a hotel and a ballroom. Some of the great entertainers of the 20th century performed there, including bandleaders Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Lawrence Welk. Industrial powerhouses like Firestone, Ohio Edison, Timken and Rubbermaid held company picnics at Chippewa Lake. Famous visitors included Henry Ford and Thomas Edison.
MCPD plans to transform Chippewa Lake and the 93-acre former amusement park property into a regional destination that will, once again, bring people together and create memories.
“We are thrilled that this special place, which is such an important part of the cultural history of Northeast Ohio and treasured in the memories of so many people, will be open for the public to enjoy once again,” Nathan D. Eppink says. “The park district will preserve the remnants of the ferris wheel and other historical relics that remain on the property, which provide an opportunity for interpretive panels and programs that celebrate the site’s iconic past.”
The master plan includes several phases of improvements that will take place over the next ten years. Amenities include hiking trails, an amphitheater, observation platforms, an ADA kayak launch and picnic pavilion.
In addition to its cultural significance, Chippewa Lake and its wetlands are key components of a vast watershed that impacts the quality of life for many adjacent communities. The park district has conducted several H2Ohio-funded stream and wetland restoration projects that help reduce flooding, sedimentation and pollution from storm water runoff — protecting residential property and enhancing the health of the lake for recreation and wildlife.
Visit MedinaCountyParks.com and ChippewaLakeOhio.com for additional information.