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Lowe-Volk Nature Center
Upcoming Events Nature Notes Bike Way Photo Gallery Adopt-an-Animal Geo-Caching Policy Volunteer Park Rules Friends of the CPD Contact Us About the CPD Crawford Park District
2401 SR 598 Crestline, Oh 44827 419-683-9000 Lowe-Volk Nature Center Hours: Mon-Sat: 8:00-4:00 Sun: Closed |
The Latest News from the CPDWelcome to our New Website!
In need of a new website with current material, we are happy to unveil our new site with you. You'll find the layout much more user friendly and eye appealing. Peruse and use. Continue to come back for current news within the Crawford Park District, updated programming, and general environmental info. As nature is ever-changing, we'll keep our site just as dynamic. Thanks and enjoy.
Crawford
Park District Geo-Park Tour
This tour will take you to all of our parks where you will find geocaches (listed on www.geocaching.com) placed by the Crawford Park District. Each of these geocache containers hold a keyword. Log that keyword on our Tour Page and return to the Lowe Volk Park Nature Center to redeem for a collectible Geocaching item, a Pathtag! For worksheet, click below. Make A Difference Day (10/26/2013)
The Friends of the Crawford Park District partnered with Gannett Corporation/Bucyrus Telegraph Forum and Crawford County Economic Development Partnership Inc. to plan this year’s annual Make A Difference Day in Crawford County. It was held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 and involved projects in three of our parks. Examples of volunteer duties included invasive plant removal, boardwalk maintenance, making the Nature Center sparkle, building picnic tables and bridges, clearing new trails, applying recycled asphalt to wet trails, and prairie restoration. Through the leadership of Anthony Conchel, of the Telegraph Forum, a $5,000 grant was awarded to the Friends Of the CPD to cover volunteer day materials and other park projects that directly benefit the quality of life in Crawford County. Make a Difference Day is the nation’s largest day of community service. Approximately 100 volunteers united to improve the Crawford Park District and our deep appreciation goes out to all who contributed to the success of this event. Purple Martin's Nesting at Unger! (6/5/2013)
Just over one year ago the Crawford Park District erected a tower complex at Unger Park with the goal of establishing a Purple Martin colony. Sitting on a hill overlooking Unger’s 53 acres, the two tier, 24 gourd system – Martins prefer gourds over the traditional apartment house – has attracted 5 pairs of Purple Martins. If the new colony grows as expected, 10 – 12 pairs will take up residence next year with 20 or more pairs arriving the following spring. The largest swallow in North America, its size and fluid, chirping calls separate the Purple Martin from the Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows which also nest at Unger Park. With the colony at only 5 pairs, observers will have to be patient – the birds are often away foraging for food. Peak activity is during the mid-morning hours. 
Left -- Purple Martin: Warren Uxley; Right -- Martin complex at Unger: Bill Fisher
CPD Receives Grant From EPA (5/31/2013)
The Crawford Park District has been awarded a Surface Water Improvement Fund grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $65,030 to implement a stormwater and nutrient reduction demonstration project at Lowe-Volk Park. The stormwater management demonstration at Lowe-Volk Park will include: the installation of a rain garden; installation of two (2) rainwater harvesting and reuse systems; improvements to existing wetland and bioretention cells at the park entrance (including native wetland species planting); and the conversion of 5000 square feet of impervious pavement in the parking area into pervious pavement. Additionally, a passive vegetated treatment train will be installed next to the parking area to provide addition retention and treatment of parking area runoff. By retaining excess stormwater and releasing it at a slower rate, incremental improvement to water quality in the Sandusky River and Lake Erie can be achieved. Park District Director, Bill Fisher says that, "This project will provide and promote unique-to-the-county examples of stormwater management aimed to educate homeowners and businesses with ways to reduce runoff quantity and improve water quality." In addition, interpretive educational signage will be installed to provide information on these examples to park visitors. The goal is to introduce these ideals so that they can be understood better and, likewise more readily adopted by citizens and businesses on their own properties. The project provides an opportunity for property owners to see how they can construct runoff management practices that not only will improve wildlife and aquatic resources, but also improve the aesthetics of their property and landscaping at the same time. Partners in the project include Crawford Soil and Water Conservation District, Oberlander’s Tree and Landscape LTD, and private citizens who care deeply about the environment and in Crawford County’s role in making a difference to improve it. Nonpoint source pollution is the leading cause of water quality impairment in Ohio. It is caused by rain or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, picking up natural and human-made pollutants and depositing them in lakes, rivers, wetlands and other waterways. Other forms of nonpoint source pollution include modifications to natural stream flow, habitat alteration and nutrients. Polluted runoff can have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries and wildlife. www.epa.ohio.gov Youth Projects Benefit the CPD (5/25/2013)
Last spring, Jessica Lohr was senior at Pioneer Career and Technology Center. As part of her College Now Program, she developed a business plan that centered on the landscape industry. Once approved, she provided landscape services for friends, family and other community members. Jessica’s business was very successful! As a business plan requirement, class members chose a non-profit organization to receive their financial gains. Jessica chose the Crawford Park District as her beneficiary. Before she graduated from Colonel Crawford High School, she stopped by the Nature Center and presented us with a check for $550! So many winners in this excellent Pioneer learning experience. Thank you, Jessica,for being a great student and someone who cares about the mission of the CPD! Emma McAdams completed a 4-H project for this year’s Crawford County Fair that included a wonderful fundraiser for the CPD. Her project,“Let’s Explore the Outdoors,” involved creating and producing environmental related stickers. She sold these at this year’s CommFest in Columbus while she accompanied her parents to the event. Her sales promotion included a salute to the Crawford Park District as the recipient of her efforts. Emma’s donation to the CPD was$164.00. Thank you, Emma! Bald Eagle Nest Falls (8/25/2012)
Of the three Bald Eagle nests in Crawford County, the very first one has unfortunately fallen down. Located in the northwest part of the county on Woodside Road, the Wiloughby Nest, as it was known, was very productive in its decade-plus existence. Eric Rothhaar, who lives across the road from the nest, said that the nest was successful every year except one. “The American Sycamore the nest was located in had been dead…and I knew it was only a matter of time before it would topple”, said Josh Dyer, Naturalist with the Crawford Park District. Dyer and Rothhaar visited the nest remnants and found evidence of what Bald Eagles eat. Raccoon, Ground Hog, squirrel, and fish skulls, along with other bones, were found in abundance. “I’ll keep these in the CPD skull collection and use them in our programming”, noted Dyer. Bald Eagles may remain near the site of a former nest, providing that food and water availability, disturbance, and mates do not change. A very stout American Sycamore is growing next to the former and will hopefully provide a suitable nest location. 
Chrisha Dyer and Eric Rothhaar investigate the remnants of Crawford County’s first Bald Eagle nest, which recently collapsed.
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