Bath Township added another park to its collection of green spaces over the summer with the opening of the North Fork Preserve of Bath.
Over the summer, Bath, saw the opening of the North Fork Preserve, the newest addition to the township’s collection of natural spaces. The 78-acre park includes several amenities, featuring hiking trails, streams and wetlands, each offering a new look into the local ecosystem.
Through a partnership between Bath Township and the Trust for Public Land, a non-profit conservation group, the township acquired the once-residential property through a 1.65 million dollar grant furnished by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. These opportunities became open to the park through the diverse ecological structure it is home to and the wide variety of flora and fauna that call the area home.
Creating a park is a difficult task, and to complete a project of such a scale, the dedication of certain individuals is necessary. Elaina Goodrich is one of those individuals. Goodrich is a member of the Bath Township Board of Trustees, a position she has held for 28 years, and was pivotal in creating North Fork Preserve. Goodrich explained how she first encountered the project and how it first began development.
“The Trust for Public Land approached us because they had worked with us on the Bath Nature Preserve. And he said that there was this land that hadn’t been sold that had park potential. He asked if we were interested in going through the Trust for Public Land, and have them apply for a grant that would purchase the property for us. So, of course, we agreed,” Goodrich said.
Natural spaces, specifically parks, often carry a certain level of importance, hence their protection from future development. Furthermore, parks provide a protected area for local wildlife to thrive, allowing for education and appreciation toward the species to grow. North Fork is no different. Goodrich explained what makes North Fork unique and why it deserved to become a protected area.
“I know what a Barred Owl is, but not everybody does. With places like the field station for the University of Akron, they bring kids out here from other communities where, maybe, they’ve never been to a place like this. I think it’s important. And for our residents as well, when the pandemic happened, the use of parks exploded, and that was for a reason,” Goodrich said.
Even though creating a park from the ground up is a lengthy and trying process, Goodrich still found herself tackling the issue. Without passion for a project, such things do not happen. Goodrich shared her thoughts on why she believed North Fork was necessary for Bath’s park lineup.
“When my son was in school we had one park. We didn’t have access to nature, even though people have large lots, it’s not the same. My backyard is not the same as Bath Nature Preserve or the North Fork Preserve of Bath. And we did a survey early on. People were interested in green space and trails and expanding their park options. So that was one thing that I wanted to do,” Goodrich said.
Another critical aspect of North Fork is the presence of over 13 headwater streams within the park. While eastern portions of the property are dry, the vast majority of the area is rarely water-dense, making it valuable outside of its recreational intent. North Fork Stream, the namesake of the park, weaves for over 1372 feet throughout the park.
Outside of the natural features that make up North Fork, multiple buildings are on the property, holdovers from the area’s previous owners, which will provide another essential aspect to the site. A barn and house stand on the property and have already begun conversion into new purposes; Goodrich explained the potential usage of these structures.
“I think the buildings would be a great retreat or wedding area if you had an event planner. That person can learn how to handle the place. People could have a wedding, have a baptism, have a bridal shower, birthday parties. The buildings could even be a senior center during the week. I think that would be fabulous,” Goodrich said
Parks, aside from offering green spaces, can also be a source of revenue for an area. Goodrich sees North Fork’s potential as an economic opportunity for the township and explained the impact the park could create.
“North Fork could bring economic development. Because if people come here to go to a wedding or other event, they’re going to stop somewhere to get gas. They’re going to stop and get some snacks, they will need somewhere to spend the night. Who knows? It could have that kind of positive impact,” Goodrich said.
Often, the land parks stand on carry a storied history that only lends to the park’s attractiveness. While North Fork’s history may not offer an account as storied as some areas, it does have an important story. Goodrich provided context for the background of North Fork Preserve.
“The original property was farmland, Nemer Farm. They had a house and barn on Everett Road, and the part the structures stand on today was grown as Lebanese vegetables, corn and hay. Then the Lemmons purchased it in the 1950s, they built the house back here and transported the barn to the property, 70 years later they would sell the property to us,” Goodrich said.
A park’s primary purpose is to allow residents to go into nature and enjoy what it offers. North Fork began on the same reasoning. Goodrich explained the impact she hopes the park will have on the community.
“For the residents of the community, like those two people that are walking the trail right now, it is wonderful. It’s getting out into nature. There’s nothing better than that, especially for a person who’s interested in the parks,” Goodrich said.
A large amount of upkeep is necessary to maintain a well-functioning park. Caine Collins serves as the Service Director for Bath Township, making him responsible for maintaining the area’s roads and facilities; he is also the interim director of Bath’s parks. Collins explained that much effort has focused on the property’s structures, but the park’s trails are still a key focus of action.
“On the existing house: a new roof, gutters, downspout drains and basement mold/asbestos remediation have been completed . . . Our current plan is to further improve Loop #2 this fall by applying a stone surface to the trail’s entire length. The heavily wooded eastern section of the North Fork property will be surveyed later this fall, and construction on Loop #3 is expected to begin soon after. We anticipate initial completion of Loop #3 by summer 2024,” Collins said.
While much work is still needed to help North Fork reach its full potential, it will be complete one day. Collins looks toward a day when work on North Fork finishes. He described where he hopes to see the park shortly.
“Within the next 3 years, I would expect that the existing house and barn would be fully remodeled. The Triple Loop trail would be fully constructed. At 10 years out, I would expect that the North Fork Park would be a favorite destination for many area residents to get out and walk in this great park,” Collins said.
Parks serve two purposes: to help protect a green space from development and to provide an outdoor area for people to learn and enjoy the world around them. Jon Smith is an avid outdoorsman who has hiked the trails of Bath for over 25 years and was one Bath resident excited by the news of a new green area. Smith explained his feelings toward the new park and why he believes it is important.
“When I first heard about [North Fork] I was super excited. I try to get out into nature everyday, and sometimes going to the same places every day would get repetitive. Having a place like North Fork is really special, it get me excited to go outside again,” Smith said.
North Fork Preserve grew on the dreams a few individuals carried for an unassuming 73 acres of land, and through their dedication, Bath Township is now home to yet another blooming green space.
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