From left, Friends of Ottawa County Parks Secretary, Heidi Cline; Park District of Ottawa County Executive Director, Jannah Wilson; Park District Board Member, Judy Indorf; and Park District Board Member, Jack Madison, break ground on the new Islander Woods and Trailhead Park on Catawba on March 6. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

CATAWBA ISLAND – On March 6, the Park District of Ottawa County held a groundbreaking ceremony for its very first park, Islander Woods and Trailhead on Catawba Island. Construction has begun on the park, which is expected to open to the public in mid-to-late summer. Creating a new park is a major milestone for the park district.

The 7½-acre park will feature Bob’s Pond with a limestone fishing area and a wildlife observation deck, a nature-themed playground, walking trails, a drinking fountain and water bottle fill station, an informational kiosk, picnic tables, prairie spaces, and pollinator areas.

From left, Park District of Ottawa County volunteer, Chris Shee; Friends of Ottawa County Parks Secretary, Heidi Cline; Park District Executive Director, Jannah Wilson; Park District Board Member, Judy Indorf; Park District Board Member, Jack Madison; Park District Administrative Specialist, Sara Hill; and Park District Operations Assistant, Operations Assistant Chuck Mattimoe, gather for a groundbreaking for the new Islander Woods and Trailhead Park on March 6. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The park was partially funded by an approximately $300,000 Clean Ohio grant through the Ohio Public Works Commission, and the park district funded the majority of the balance. The park district received a Shores & Islands Destination Development grant that is helping to fund the trails, and the ODNR helped with a Division of Coastal Management grant. The Friends of Ottawa County Parks donated $25,000 to help fund the playground, and a memorial donation will fund plantings of native vegetation and trees after construction is complete.

“We first acquired the property in March, 2024,” said Park District of Ottawa County Executive Director, Jannah Wilson. “It took that long to get through the planning and funding.”

The park will appeal to a wide scope of the public, including anglers, birders, and hikers. Although the park will not be open in time for this year’s bird migration, it promises to be a birding hotspot in the future.

“We have lots of wildlife out here, and it’s an incredible birding area,” Wilson said. “I’ve seen wood ducks, herons, and lots of songbirds. There are turtles and frogs in the pond.”

Wilson said the goal is to manage the pond with native plants to ensure a healthy ecosystem for wildlife.

Park District of Ottawa County Executive Director, Jannah Wilson, stands next to Bob’s Pond at the Islander Woods and Trailhead Park. The pond will feature a natural limestone fishing area and a wildlife observation deck. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The park district also owns Davenport Memorial Woodlands across the street from Islander Woods and Trailhead. Davenport Memorial Woodlands is currently undeveloped and inaccessible to the public, but the park district plans to create a public, primitive trail network through the property’s 17 acres next year.

“This is phase one,” Wilson said of the Islander Woods project. “Next year, we hope to open Davenport.”

When the Islander Woods project is complete, the park district plans to host nature programs at the site. When both parks are open, visitors will have access to over 24 acres of natural space.

“This is the perfect first park for us,” Wilson said.