By Maxwell Muniak, BEAT reporter
BRUNSWICK, OH- Everyone needs a little time to themselves. Lodi Library is already a good place to grab a book or relax, but now the Medina County Park District is adding a new trailhead and nature preserve nearby. Lodi Woods Nature Preserve will open in November behind Lodi Library.
The park is still being worked on, but the Medina County Park District held a preview on October 15th for people to go and check out the new park that is coming soon. There were approximately 30 community members at that preview. At the preview, they talked about the park and showed a little bit of the trail. The Park District Director, Nathan Eppink, gave an overview of the park and guided the attendees on a short hike.
The park started as just a piece of land the Freeman Family bought as an investment that they used and actually really enjoyed. Eventually, the family decided to sell the land to the Park District so the Park District could make the land into a 67-acre nature preserve. The Park District decided to partner with the library to start the construction of the trailhead right by the library because the land was right next to the library. Park attendees can then use the library parking and restrooms during open hours.
“There is a very good variety of songbirds in the park,” said Director Eppink. The park has a wide variety of trees and also a lot of different animals and plants all scattered around, so when it opens, and you go hiking there, you might want to look around and try to spot all of the different plants and animals.
Because the Lodi Woods trailhead is right next to the library, they decided to host the preview at the library. “We decided it was a great idea to partner with the library because it will be one of the only places where you can go hiking through the woods and pick up a book,” said Park District Commissioner member Jason C. Venner.
Lodi Woods will be a great park, and the addition of the park’s trailhead being next to the library makes the park a one-of-a-kind place where you can go read a book and go for a hike.
Maxwell Muniak, Brunswick Middle School, is one of over fifty student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program, celebrating its 25th year, is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifts, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to https://www.bcsoh.org/community/new-beat-site to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com/?folder=ALL to view videos produced by the students.
PHOTOS: Medina County Park District tour of the new Lodi Woods Nature Preserve in progress; BEAT reporter Maxwell “Max” Muniak covering the story.