BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Crawford Park District is balancing behind-the-scenes infrastructure upgrades with critical upcoming trail repairs as Director Lori Morey completes her first full year at the helm.
Moore, who took over the role last July after 16 years as a naturalist and administrator at Malabar Farm State Park, noted that her first year required navigating several unexpected operational hurdles right out of the gate.
“Learning to expect the unexpected… was one of my earliest lessons as a director,” Morey said. “Within the first week that I started, our main tractor was down with a mechanical issue.”
The park district ultimately partnered with Burkhart Farm Equipment to secure a loaner tractor before permanently purchasing the replacement machine when the original tractor was deemed unfit to return to service.
Infrastructure maintenance at the Lowe-Volk Nature Center hub also dominated much of the year’s behind-the-scenes budget. The district finalized a new metal roof installation, completed fascia repairs, and added an extensive snow rail system to mitigate heavy ice and snow slides during the winter months. The building’s exterior block was also power-washed and resealed for the first time in a decade to ensure future structural integrity.
Looking ahead, Morey said the district’s primary focus is securing funding for the Lowe-Volk boardwalk. The 15-year-old, 310-foot wheelchair-accessible trail offers visitors views of the confluence where two creeks meet to form the Sandusky River, but it is currently showing significant structural wear.
The district has submitted a grant application to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to help cover the estimated $60,000 to $80,000 replacement cost. A funding decision is expected within the next month.
“We want it there for the future because it’s a really great way for everybody to have access to the woods,” Morey said, adding that the district will pivot to an alternative internal funding plan if the state grant is not approved.