CRAWFORD PARK DISTRICT
  • HOME
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • CPD Park Rules
    • Employment with the CPD
    • Stormwater Demo Site
    • Quarry book available
  • Parks
    • Heckert Nature Preserve
    • Daughmer Prairie Savannah State Nature Preserve
    • Lowe-Volk Park >
      • Nature Playscape
    • Sandusky Headwaters Preserve
    • Sandusky Wildlife Area
    • Sears Woods State Nature Preserve
    • Unger Park
  • Programs & Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Educator Resources
    • Forest Friends Preschool
    • Junior Naturalist
    • Nature Camp
  • Conservation
    • Natural Resources >
      • Current Issues >
        • Emerald Ash Borer
        • Spotted Lanternfly
        • Asian Longhorn Beetle
        • Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
        • Black Bear
        • Bobcat
        • Beech Leaf Disease
        • Oak Wilt
        • Tree of Heaven
        • Callerypear
      • Resource & Land Management
      • Surveying & Monitoring >
        • Bluebird Monitoring
        • Butterfly Monitoring
        • Citizen Science
      • Report a Land Concern
    • Flora & Fauna
    • Wildlife Emergency
  • Newsletters
  • Archives
    • Gallery >
      • Photo Archive
      • Water Carnival 2019
      • Animal Extravaganza 2019
      • Mud Day 2019
      • Kids Learning Tree
      • Daughmer Savannah Controlled Burn
      • Spring Wildflowers
      • Fall Color
      • Winter Scenes
    • Newsletters
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
Picture
The headquarters of the Crawford Park District is located at Lowe-Volk Nature Center.

About the CPD

Mission Statement

​The mission of the Crawford Park District is to create, preserve, protect and manage a system of parks, nature preserves and outdoor recreational facilities held in public ownership by the citizens of Crawford County for the leisure use and enjoyment of this and future generations, with a focus on local cultural, historical, and natural resources.

Park Formation Steering Committee:

​Before the Crawford Park District was formed, a steering committee researched ideas and traveled to parts of Ohio to observe other Park Districts.  After a public hearing, the Crawford Park District was formed on November 16, 1994 by probate Judge Steven Eckstein.  Members of the Steering Committee were:
Mike Blaising          
Richard Carpenter     
Emerson Eckstein   
Dawn Hedges
Mentor Larsen        
John Mizick                ​
Mike Morton             
Gary Ogle
Steve Prochaska      

Jack Shuck                   
​Sonny Wechter 
​

Park Commissioners:

​Kyle Hartman 
Jan Maddy
Dave Rowland

Advisory Board Members:

Chris Berry     
Richard Carpenter   
Jarrod Crabaugh    
Gary Cole                 
Peggy DeGray     
Matt Echelberry     
Cindy Edwards     
Joy Etter-Link         
Dan Everly     
Susan Fogle     
Marline Garverick     
Cody Knapp  ​
​Dave Koepke     
Barb Koschnick     
Martha Kozik     
Kyle Laipply             
Leslie Lawson     
John Mizick     
Lindy Rachel   
Jane Schnelker     
Gene Toy     
Bruce Truka   
 Joan Wolfe     
Candace Yocum

Current Employees:

Josh Dyer - Director
Patti Schiefer – Executive Secretary

Kari Schenz - Receptionist
​Patti Gervais - Receptionist

Mike Fruth - Land Manager
Kyle Bailey 
– Land Manager
​Lisa Bogard - Naturalist
Chelsea Gottfried -  Naturalist

Kaily Vitullo - Naturalist
Warren Uxley - Naturalist
​
Joy Etter-Link - Program Assistant

CPD History

The Crawford Park District was created on November 16, 1994 by Probate Judge Steven Eckstein following a public hearing.  This followed two years of research and meetings by a volunteer committee organized by Richard Carpenter to form a park district.  The District is governed by three volunteer Park Commissioners appointed by the Probate Judge.  In addition, the Commissioners have appointed volunteers to serve on an Advisory Board to help guide the District. Primary goals of the Crawford Park District are to preserve nature for its enjoyment now and in the future and to educate citizens about the wonders of the natural world. 

In 1998, the non-profit group, The Friends of the Crawford Park District, was organized to help fund projects and to support the mission of the Park District.  Due to many grantor requirements, it was the Friends of the Crawford Park District who oversaw the funding and construction of the Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center.

Current sites in the Crawford Park District include Unger Park, Lowe-Volk Park, Sears Woods State Nature Preserve, Heckert Nature Preserve, Daughmer Prairie Savannah State Nature Preserve, Sandusky Wildlife Area, and Sandusky Headwaters Preserve. In addition, the Colonel Crawford Bikeway, which begins at Lowe-Volk Park, was set up to guide bikers over township and county roads.

The Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center opened on December 21, 2002. The Nature Center offers nature and history programs for families and environmental education programs to area schools and other community organizations. Our Nature Center is open year-round and features interpretive nature and local history exhibits, live animals, bird feeders, and butterfly garden observation room.  There is also an active bee hive, children’s learning center, nature gift shop, and 2 six-foot diameter stained glass windows, all constructed in an environmentally friendly manner. 

A quarterly newsletter is sent to over 1,000 supporters.  Newsletters contain informational nature articles, news about Park District concerns, and most importantly, the newsletter details all scheduled public programs. ​

Become a Friend of the
​Crawford Park District!

Friends of the CPD is dedicated to helping the Crawford Park District achieve its goals of continuing nature conservation and education in Crawford County.  Financial contributions by our Friends members helped build the Lowe-Volk Nature Center, preserve over 300 acres of parks, support community nature programs and develop an Astronomy Club!  The groups we serve in our community include day cares, public & private schools, home-school groups, assisted living centers, 4-H and Scout clubs, civic clubs and more!  Crawford Park District oversees the care and continued development of 6 public parks and nature preserves in Crawford County.  We appreciate your continued support and welcome you as a Friend of the CPD!  Please click on the DONATE tab to give!  Thank you for your generosity!
Donate
Crawford Park District
2401 SR 598
Crestline, OH 44827
419-683-9000
​
Business Hours

Mon-Fri  8:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm - 4:00pm 
​Sunday CLOSED
Contact Us
Picture

    Subscribe to our newsletter today!

Submit
  • HOME
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • CPD Park Rules
    • Employment with the CPD
    • Stormwater Demo Site
    • Quarry book available
  • Parks
    • Heckert Nature Preserve
    • Daughmer Prairie Savannah State Nature Preserve
    • Lowe-Volk Park >
      • Nature Playscape
    • Sandusky Headwaters Preserve
    • Sandusky Wildlife Area
    • Sears Woods State Nature Preserve
    • Unger Park
  • Programs & Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Educator Resources
    • Forest Friends Preschool
    • Junior Naturalist
    • Nature Camp
  • Conservation
    • Natural Resources >
      • Current Issues >
        • Emerald Ash Borer
        • Spotted Lanternfly
        • Asian Longhorn Beetle
        • Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
        • Black Bear
        • Bobcat
        • Beech Leaf Disease
        • Oak Wilt
        • Tree of Heaven
        • Callerypear
      • Resource & Land Management
      • Surveying & Monitoring >
        • Bluebird Monitoring
        • Butterfly Monitoring
        • Citizen Science
      • Report a Land Concern
    • Flora & Fauna
    • Wildlife Emergency
  • Newsletters
  • Archives
    • Gallery >
      • Photo Archive
      • Water Carnival 2019
      • Animal Extravaganza 2019
      • Mud Day 2019
      • Kids Learning Tree
      • Daughmer Savannah Controlled Burn
      • Spring Wildflowers
      • Fall Color
      • Winter Scenes
    • Newsletters