I am out of my mind with excitement about McCammon Creek Park, a new nature preserve and park opening next year along Bale Kenyon Road in Lewis Center.
You might be wondering why I’d even write about something that’s not opening for a while, but the park is already in progress. There’s a ton of work happening behind the scenes.
Preservation Parks of Delaware County has been quietly working on the McCammon Creek Park project for four years already!
As a foundation board member for Preservation Parks, I’ve known about this big news for more than a year. It’s been so hard not blogging or talking about it.
Now, since there’s already been a big feature about McCammon Creek Park in This Week/Columbus Dispatch, plus Preservation Parks shares updates on their blog from time to time, I figure it’s finally time to share my excitement here.
Are you ready to hear about this epic park?
First of all, if you’re wondering exactly where on Bale Kenyon Road it will be, look no farther than the enormous, gorgeous old Bicentennial Barn that you can see from I-71. That historic barn is actually going to be an important part of the park.
There are three phases to McCammon Creek Park and the entire project will not be complete for several years. In total, it will be one of the largest parks in the Preservation Parks system once it’s all complete and will encompass wooded areas, hiking trails, beautiful creeks and water features, a canopy walk among the trees and an adventure area for climbing, yoga and parkour.
In the first phase, that big 100-year-old barn will be relocated back away from the road and converted into an amazing public event space that will be open year-round. Currently, our parks district does not have anything like this – the Barn space will be nice enough to rent out for weddings and graduation parties, yet also still rustic and useful for school programs and the like.
Later phases will add a fishing pond, a farm-themed playground and a natural play area, as well as many trails connecting up to other local biking and walking paths and trails.
I’m excited about the new McCammon Creek Park not only because it sounds absolutely epic, but also because it’s so close to home for us. We can ride our bikes to the new park – and it’s also a park I’ll drive past often. We typically take scenic Bale Kenyon Rd. in order to avoid South Old State Rd. at busy times.
One of the things we’ve always loved about living in southern Delaware County is all the beautiful green space. Over the almost 12 years that we’ve lived here, we’ve seen so much development happen and so many lovely farm properties turn into condos and houses.
I for one am forever thankful to Preservation Parks for the incredibly important work they do preserving green spaces and turning them into gorgeous nature parks for all families to enjoy.
I can’t wait to visit McCammon Creek Park once the first phase is open – and I’m glad that as a member of the Preservation Parks Foundation, I’ll get to help with fundraising and building awareness to make this beautiful Barn project and park a reality for our community.
Let me know if you’re interested in learning more about the park, the Barn relocation and restoration project, or how you can get involved!
