Mission Statement
To provide exceptional outdoor recreation and boating opportunities by balancing outstanding customer service, education, protection and conservation of Ohio’s state parks and waterways.
Vision Statement
To be a diverse and skilled team empowered to deliver the highest standard of excellence in outdoor recreation and sound resource management.
Strategic Planning
We are currently in the middle of a new strategic planning initiative that will help guide us over the next few years. It is our hope that this initiative will reflect the goals of the statewide community, including our dedicated staff, state business and civic leaders and the many special communities we serve and support.
Download the Strategic Plan
History
In 2016, the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation merged with the ODNRDivision of Watercraft. There were a number of benefits from the merger including improving customer service, saving on facility costs, and staff flexibility for both the parks and boating programs.
Today, most state park offices offer customers the ability to make reservations, register their boat, schedule boat inspections and find nature and boating education programs. The division's Natural Resources Officers provide law enforcement support to all parks facilities as well as across the waters of Ohio. This flexibility improves customer engagement and offers a flexible solution to safety issues.
75th Anniversary —Years of Making Memories
In the post-World War II era, amid the winds of change and progress, Ohio witnessed the birth of transformative legislation that would shape its natural landscape for future generations. It all began in 1949 with the enactment of Amended Senate Bill 13, a pivotal moment that marked the genesis of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the creation of Ohio State Parks.
As the ink dried on the Natural Resources Act, a new era unfolded. The legislation not only established the Parks division but also gave rise to six other divisions within the Department, each dedicated to safeguarding different aspects of Ohio's natural treasures. Lands and Soils, Water, Forestry, Wildlife, Geological Survey, and Beach Erosion became integral components of the state's commitment to environmental stewardship.
With the stroke of a legislative pen, the Parks division inherited a vast expanse of state lands, including nature parks, lakes for public use, and a mandate to oversee condemned boats and boat safety violations. The Chief of Parks wielded the authority to levy fines, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
In the wake of this groundbreaking legislation, 16 parks were officially designated as Ohio State Parks. Buckeye Lake, considered the oldest of the parks as its construction dates back to the 1820s and 30s, headlined the list of the original state parks.
The division took charge of recreational reserves, canal ways, waysides, lake reserves, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs, overseeing a staggering 82,829 acres of natural beauty. Following further negotiations in 1950 with the Wildlife and Forestry divisions, the Parks division grew to 44 state parks, solidifying its commitment to preserving Ohio's ecological diversity.
At the helm of this monumental initiative was V.W. Flickinger, appointed as the first Chief of the Division of Parks on December 5, 1949. Operating on a modest budget of $150,161, Flickinger and his team set out to make Ohio State Parks a haven for nature enthusiasts.
The 1950s ushered in a new chapter with the initiation of naturalist programming and interpretation. The goal was simple yet profound – to ensure that visitors not only reveled in the natural wonders but also developed a profound appreciation for the flora and fauna that graced Ohio's parks.
In the mid-1960s, a $100-million state parks development program was launched, marking the groundbreaking for lodges like Burr Oak and Hueston Woods. Ohio's commitment to outdoor recreation was further solidified in 1964 with the release of "A Policy for Outdoor Recreation in Ohio," the first statewide, comprehensive recreation plan in the nation. The years that followed witnessed the inauguration of annual events such as the Hocking Hills Winter Hike in 1966 and the establishment of the first Ohio State Parks Ranger Academy in 1974, training selected personnel in law enforcement.
By 1982, Ohio State Parks had become a national beacon, with visitor attendance reaching a staggering 66 million, surpassing all other state park systems in the nation. Legislative support continued with House Bill 259 in 1984, allowing Park Rangers to be certified as Peace Officers.
A landmark survey in 1985 revealed that 44 percent of Ohio's population visited state parks annually, highlighting the deep connection between the people and their natural heritage. The 1990s marked a significant milestone, with Ohio State Parks boasting a system of 207,000 acres and 72 state parks across 60 counties. In 1997, Ohio proudly became the first recipient of the National Recreation and Parks Association's National Gold Medal Award.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary in 1999, a new mascot named "Tuffy the Turtle" made its debut, captivating the hearts of park enthusiasts. A testament to Ohio's commitment to environmental education, the Lake Hope hummingbird hand-feeding program debuted in 2005, attracting over 2,000 visitors and becoming a cherished tradition in southeast Ohio. The momentum continued into the new millennium, with camping seeing a surge of over 9% in 2009. The Ohio State Parks Rewards Program was introduced, rewarding loyal campers and enrolling 45,000 people in its inaugural year. The lodges, cabins, and campgrounds of Ohio State Parks welcomed more than 2.5 million overnight guests in 2013. A year later, the Ohio Division of Watercraft initiated the Ohio Women's Outdoor Adventures weekend, empowering women of all ages to embrace outdoor activities both on and off the water.
In 2016, the divisions of Watercraft and Parks and Recreation merged, giving rise to the Division of Parks and Watercraft. Natural Resources Officers now combined the responsibilities of both Park Officers and Watercraft Officers.
Jesse Owens joined the park system in 2018 as a symbol of environmental stewardship and natural resource conservation, and the COVID-19 Memorial Grove was added at Great Seal in 2021 dedicated to Ohioans who lost their lives during the pandemic and the medical professionals who served on the front line.
This spring, a 76th park will join the state park system with the opening of Great Council. Located on State Route 68, between Xenia and Yellow Springs, in Oldtown, the park will feature a cultural interpretive center focused on Ohio’s Native Peoples, their history in their Ohio homeland, and their lives today.
As Ohio celebrates the 75th anniversary of its State Parks in 2024, its legacy stands tall – 76 state parks, numerous nature preserves, forests, wildlife areas, and scenic rivers. Ohio's commitment to accessibility and preservation remains unwavering, providing a refuge from the modern pace of life. The story of Ohio State Parks is one of foresight, dedication, and a profound appreciation for the natural wonders that define the Buckeye State, and the opportunity to explore and make lasting memories awaits each visitor.
History of Ohio State Parks
Ohioans have long been drawn to the woods and waters of their beloved Buckeye State. Ohio’s system of state parks was officially formed in 1949 when the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was created, but it has its roots in the 19th century.
When the canal era ended in Ohio, a number of artificial lakes and surrounding lands became popular destinations for outdoor recreation and family outings. Those lands, including Ohio’s first state park, Buckeye Lake, were combined with forest parks, such as Hocking Hills, to become the foundation of today’s modern system.
In the early 1900s, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt inspired the nation with his love of the outdoors and creation of a new national park system. Ohioans began developing its own conservation movement by passing laws, creating agencies and buying land to protect forests, fish, and game.
After World War II, state lawmakers consolidated the assortment of state lands to provide consistent management and administration of public lands and facilities. Senate Bill 13 of the 98th General Assembly, effective October 7, 1949, created the Division of Parks within the new Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
History of Recreational Boating in Ohio
Prior to the late 1800s, most boating in Ohio was a transportation and commerce necessity. The Ohio and Erie Canal, which became operative from Akron to Cleveland in 1827, was economic boon for Ohio and served as a link to needed resources. The Miami and Erie Canal, which comprised three canals (the Miami Canal running from Cincinnati to Dayton, the Miami Extension, and the Wabash and Erie Canal), was officially designated in 1849.
Boating as a recreational activity was popularized by sailing regattas held on Lake Erie in the late 1800s. The first international sailing regatta on the Great Lakes was held at Put-in-Bay in September 1871. The Inter-Lake Yachting Association (ILYA) was conceived in July 1884 at Put-in-Bay Harbor and was formally organized in 1885 at a meeting for the Cleveland Yachting Association and the Cleveland Canoe Club. Interest in regatta sailing races was so great that in 1900 carrier pigeons were dispatched from a boat at the finish line to fly the results to the Sandusky Star, the local evening newspaper.
For many Ohioans, Lake Erie weekends were not a recreational option. Folks living inland flocked to the rivers for recreational boating and fishing opportunities. Popular family vacation destinations included the Maumee, Miami, Muskingum, Tuscarawas, and Ohio rivers, which provided ample opportunity to spend on-the-water time with family and friends.
Production of the first Evinrude outboard motor in 1909 opened the doors to modern recreational boating. In the 1920s, the high cost of owning and operating powerboats meant that recreational use was reserved for the wealthy. The Depression of the 1930s tremendously slowed the growth of recreational boating, but after World War II the demand for leisure time activities dramatically increased, including a resurgence of competitive racing.
Until the 1970s, boat owners registered their boats locally, for a particular body of water — thus requiring multiple registrations for a single vessel if it was used in different bodies of water.
