A park I've always know was there, but never ventured to explore. At the end of a dirt road beyond the skate park, beyond various industries, sits Grosjean Park. 
No maps, no information, just a blank kiosk with a sign letting you know you've arrived. 
When we went it was fantastically overgrown, so we picked a direction and started walking. Soon we came upon a beaten path leading us past various posts with numbers (possibly remnants from years past as campsite markers? In doing research I couldn't find any evidence of public camping in the park. If you have any info on this please share!) following the path lead us down to the creek, Apple Creek to be precise. The wide but shallow creek stumbling over stones as it travels round twists and turns ultimately ends up joining Killbuck Creek by Blachleyville Rd. We then left the creek and headed back up the trail, I kept noticing a plant which seemed to blanket the banks, the bushes, really anywhere there was ample light, it wasn't virginia creeper nor was it kudzu, after looking into it it's in fact Japanese Hops, a noxious weed meaning it is not only invasive but it is detrimental to the natural balance of an area. We continued on through the woods, along the creek, over logs, until we came upon a group of houses and turned back. The trail along the other way (walking towards the skatepark) is more well manicured, opening from the trees to a beach like area. Sand and stones frame the creek around sharp turns. It is a very beautiful area.

Why is the park so overgrown?
     It's not necessarily a park for hiking, the main focus of this green area is as a trout release area for the organization Trout Unlimited (more on the Clear Fork River TU Chapter here) . This is a hotspot for fly fishermen (catch & release) and is a pretty well known area in those groups. Therefore there's very little need for trail maintenance as most use the water to travel in their waders. 

How did the park come to be?
     In August 2001, Alice (Grosjean) donated 86 acres of land to the City of Wooster to be used as a park and nature trail. She wanted it to be named "Grosjean Park" in honor of her husband (George).

Fun fact 
     Driving down rt 30 towards Wooster before you get to the Madison Ave exit, look to your right, all those trees, that creek, the meadow are all part of Grosjean Park. 

​Item of notoriety - 
In researching this topic I came across a fascinating document "Wooster Envisioned - Comprehensive Plan 2014" this document is of extreme importance as it lays out the plan to improve Wooster as a city and how it is to move forward.
I bring it up as one of the key areas it focuses on is the Little Apple Creek - Grosjean Park area. 
"Parks & recreational services are often regarded as unimportant in city budgets because their cost exceeds their direct revenue. The benefits of parks and recreation services are instead measured by the social and economic impacts on the surrounding area and the community as a whole." - This is why it is so very important to get involved, volunteer whenever you can!

-Action PR.2.4
Work with local groups such as the OARDC or Trout Unlimited to make improvements to Grosjean Park that will enhance access and serve as a destination for environmental education and/or outdoor recreation.
The proximity of Grosjean Park to the Little Apple Creek and Downtown make it a very valuable space for enhancements. By partnering with local groups, the City can use this space to educate while enhancing the function of the park itself. The advancement of the park will establish it as a destination and resource. 

-Action PR.3.1
Ensure new development near Little Apple Creek maintains naturalized, publicly accessible, passive park space.
Little Apple Creek is one of Wooster's best natural assets and should be preserved at all costs. The area should be used as an asset to the whole community by making sure it is accessible to the public and undeveloped. Creating a bike path along the Creek will make it more attractive to residents while ensuring the area does not get developed. 

-Objective PR.5 - Protect and enhance the Little Apple Creek greenway.
Action PR.5.1 - Protect the riparian areas along the Creek.
Action PR.5.2 - Create new recreational and educational amenities and activities along the Creek.
Action PR.5.3 - Support the creation of a "Friends of the Little Apple Creek" group for fundraising and volunteer labor, promotion, and security.
Action PR.5.4 - Work with Trout Unlimited to create or attract an angling or conservation event. 

These are just overviews of the document, more information can be found at the links below.

The entire comprehensive plan can be found here (copy and paste full website into browser window)- 
http://www.woosteroh.com/sites/default/files/Wooster%20Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf

The chapter on Parks & Recreation can be found here (copy and paste full website into browser window)-
 http://www.woosteroh.com/sites/default/files/Chapter%205%20-%20Parks%20%26%20Recreation.pdf

There's a lot of potential for this great natural resource, keep an eye on it for great things to come! 

As avid hikers, Noah and I have been to many, many, parks, forests, and preserves in our area, yet only last week did we find a 'new' park in our old hometown. -Barnes Preserve-
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On Sylvan Rd. just past Secrest Rd. is a small turnoff with a wooden sign letting you know you've arrived. From there, let the adventurer in you take over; a bit of wandering and you'll find the path. Walking through the woods the path opens up and you can see where other people as well as equine have traveled through leading the way around the bend where a pond can be found just off the path. At the pond we were greeted by a choir of squeaking, peeping, and splashing frogs, the day we chose was a bit cloudy, windy, and chilly so not many other animals were out. While at the pond admiring the number of hickory trees and their yearly harvest I found a Hickory Tussock Moth Larva (the white and black caterpillar; about the caterpillar: poisonous to the touch but fun to watch (really though, it'll give you a pretty rough rash)!). From there we continued down the path where we came upon a brilliant bright yellow meadow of goldenrod "The Meadow Scenic Trail" a sign from years past still enduringly braves the elements to inform travelers of their whereabouts. The meadow reveals views of rolling hills and farms as far as the eye can see. Once you near the end of the meadow trail you will find a row of fruit trees and the remains of a barn, the fences still in tact. The end brings you to the Wayne County Care Center, we walked up the road to the park's informational kiosk, but couldn't find a loop back so we walked back up through the meadow (no complaints here, just noting). 
In researching this park there are many, many great things in store, a little history of the park first, then feast your eyes on all the great additions soon to come!

History of the park: 
The Barnes Preserve land was once part of the Wayne County Care Center's farm and is named after the Barnes family that operated the Care Center for many years. 
After the farm at the Wayne County Care Center ended operations...
"The park district was organized in 1991 with three commissioners — Peter Sanford, Libby Bruch and Stewart Simonds. And while Simonds himself put in a few trails and science classes from Triway High School made paths there and put some semblance of a pond, there was no money to do much of anything else. The district made three failed attempts — in 1996, 1998 and 2001 — to pass a 0.25-mill levy. And in 2005, Van Pelt said, the park district lost one of its biggest champions when Simonds died unexpectedly.
In the meantime, a barn on the property was destroyed by fire, taking with it some picnic tables. The 2010 tornado that tore through the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center also hit the preserve, taking 70 trees with it.
But now, with the incorporation of a Friends of the Parks organization and the receipt of several grants, plans to develop the Barnes Preserve for future generations are rolling along. Simonds launched the Friends group in 1999 and it gained nonprofit status the next year. Four years ago, Van Pelt said, the all-volunteer organization was reactivated and now meets monthly alongside the park district’s commissioner. "
(Source: Wooster Weekly News July 2015)


The future of the park:
"The development of the Barnes Preserve is multi-faceted, consisting of five (5) separate phases and will address two existing problems. First, it will address the need for the development of the Wayne County Park District to increase the outdoor recreation opportunities available within the County.  Second, it will address and resolve the need for a fully accessible outdoor recreation site in Wayne County, including meandering trails throughout the woods and meadow that are accessible for all Ohioans, specifically designed to fully include individuals with physical disabilities....
Upon its completion, the Barnes Preserve will provide non-motorized, diverse trails which allow for bicycle use, skating, walking and jogging; picnic areas, wildlife observation, photography areas, fishing, and playground equipment accessible to individuals of all abilities."
To be completed this fall....
"Installation of two parking lots; handicapped accessible lot is at Pavilion  (Fall 2015) 
Construction of fully accessible Pavilion and ADA compliant picnic tables  (Fall 2015)
Construction of a wheelchair accessible observation deck at wetland pond at woods’ edge  (2015) "

More info on Friends of the Wayne County Park District & Barne's Preserve can be found here.

​Volunteers make it happen! Click the link to find out how you can get involved.