The Friends of the Wood County Parks support our county parks in many ways. Through donations of both funds and people power, the Friends help you and your family enjoy our wonderful county parks.
Support the Parks!
Your continued support makes a difference.
The Friends of the Wood County Parks is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit.
A Friends membership will:
- Show your support for the parks
- Help increase the parks visibility in the community
- Assist in park activities
- Stimulate the use of the parks
- Support the preservation of the natural park areas
- Enhance conservation efforts
- Support programming
Benefits of Friends Membership:
- 25% discount on rental facility reservations
- “Friends” discounts on pubic programs and field trips
- Special “Friends Only” naturalist-led programs and tours
- Volunteer opportunities
- Receipt of quarterly mailings of the Oak Leaf program guide, as well as the Friends of the Wood County Parks newsletters.
The Friends of the Parks are a 501 (c)(3) organization, and your donation is tax-deductible.
Thank you for supporting the conservation efforts, programming, and opportunities at the Wood County Parks.
Membership Categories
Oak (lifetime) – $350
Sapling – $150
Seedling – $50
Acorn – $25
Corporate Membership:
Eagle – $1,000
Great Blue Heron – $500
2023 Photo Contest
9th Annual Contest
Categories: Landscape, Wildlife, Plant Life, and Heritage
Photographers may submit their photos taken at any of our Wood County Parks. These photo categories are: Landscape, Plant Life, Wildlife, and Heritage. Photos must be submitted per contest specifications by January 1, 2024. *This deadline has been extended from November 30.
There is a $5 entry fee which entitles the photographer five photo entries. Members of the Friends of the Parks may submit 10 photos. Prospectus and details are coming soon.
Thank you to Main Street Photo for their support!
2022 8th Annual Friends of the Wood County Parks Photo Contest Winners
Landscape
1st Place: James Mathews, “Otsego Slot Canyon”
2nd Place: William Garrett, “Icy View”
3rd Place: Tony Everhardt, “Maumee River Sunset”
Plant Life
1st Place: Greg Predmore, “Swamp Milkweed”
2nd Place: Jim Mathews, “Earth Star”
3rd Place: Jen Pollard, “Aliens at the Pond”
Wildlife
1st Place: Tony Everhardt, “Prowling Praying Mantis”
2nd Place: James Mathews, “Female Cardinal”
3rd Place: Greg Predmore, “Sycamore Tussock Moth”
Heritage
1st Place: Jim Knepper, “Log Cabin”
2nd Place: Judy Kline, “This Little Pig Welcomes You”
3rd Place: Jim Knepper, “Turtle”
People’s Choice
Landscape: Tony Everhardt, “Maumee River Sunset”
Plant Life: Jen Pollard, “Aliens at the Pond”
Wildlife: James Mathews, “Female Cardinal”
Heritage: Jim Knepper, “Log Cabin”
The Friends of the Parks Birdseed Sale is a fundraiser held annually each fall, with the help of Mid-Wood, Inc.
The Friends of the Parks Spring Plant Sale is a fundraiser held annually each spring the Saturday before Mother’s Day.
Memorial Bench Program
With a gift of $3,000 (or more) to the Friends of the Wood County Parks Memorial Bench program, a Memorial Bench with a personalized plaque is placed at a park agreed upon by donor and park staff based on space availability. The gift amount covers the cost of the bench, installation, and a personalized plaque.
Click here for text versions of the Memorial Bench Terms and Request Form.
Commemorative Trail
A Commemorative Trail engraved brick is a quality way to acknowledge milestones and loved ones.
Purchase a milestone:
4″x 8″ brick with 3 lines of text for $100
8″ x 8″ brick with 5 lines of text for $125
Click here for a brick order form.
Donate today – every dollar helps the parks!
Choose a category for your donation: Flora & Fauna, Bricks & Mortar, Education & Programs, and Endowment Fund.
Checks can be sent to the Friends of the Parks, 18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green
Friends of the Parks
PURPOSE
To show support for the Parks.
To help increase the Park’s visibility in the community.
To assist in Park activities.
To stimulate use of the Parks.
To help promote the preservation of the natural park areas.
To increase awareness of governmental legislation and administrative issues that affects the parks and increase awareness of environmental issues.
VISION STATEMENT
A system of safe, well-managed parks reflecting the natural beauty and ecological diversity of Wood County will be an integral part of the lives of all Wood County citizens.
MISSION STATEMENT
Friends of the Parks of the Wood County Parks will engage the citizens of Wood County in ensuring the preservation of the natural beauty and diversity of the Wood County ecosystem by supporting the management and growth of the Wood County park system.
Join The Friends of the Wood County Parks!
Download our Membership Application!
Advantages of Membership
25% Discount on rental facilities: Otsego, William Henry Harrison and W.W. Knight Preserve
Special “Friends Only” naturalist-led programs and tours
“Friends” discounts on public programs and field trips
Volunteer opportunities
Two newsletters each year updating you on the legislation and issues that affect our parks and informing you of various “Friends” and park activities. This is in addition to the Oak Leaf Program Guide from the Wood County Park District.
People and Parks – Working Together
Friends of Wood County Parks support our county’s parks in many ways. Through donations of both funds and people power, the Friends help you and your family enjoy the parks by:
Organizing and staffing special events
Assisting with educational and interpretive programs
Promoting, preserving and developing natural park areas
Increasing public awareness about legislation and issues that affect our parks
Serving on advisory groups for each park
Your membership dues provide funding for these services and volunteers provide the time, talent, and ideas to make the people-parks connection work!
For more information about this organization, contact:
Friends of the Wood County Parks
18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
(419) 353-1897 or toll free (800) 321-1897
Email: friends@wcparks.org
2023 Officers
President – Candace Weis – Bowling Green
Vice President – Jim Mathews – Genoa
Secretary –
Treasurer – Laura Arnold – Perrysburg
Current Trustees
David Arnold——————————-Perrysburg
Laura Arnold——————————-Perrysburg
Gloria Box—————————- Grand Rapids
Todd Brininger———————-Bowling Green
Virginia (Ginny) Dean—————- Waterville
Sue Frankforther————————Maumee
Bill Hale———————————– Haskins
Renee Jayne—————————Perrysburg
Randye Kreischer——————-Bowling Green
Lucy Long—————————-Bowling Green
Jim Mathews——————————–Genoa
Ranaye McLaughlin—————— Northwood
Stephanie Nesper———————-Perrysburg
Judy Powell————————Bowling Green
Candace Weis——————— Bowling Green
George Winters——————-Bowling Green
Honorary Trustees
Dorothea Barker – Bowling Green
Marsha Broadright – Bowling Green
Walter Krueger – Perrysburg
Martha and Dick Kudner – Perrysburg
Donate to the Friends of the Parks for specific purposes within the parks.
2022 Minutes
2021 Minutes
RSVP Program
Friends members who are 55 years and older are eligible to sign-up for the RSVP program.
The RSVP program rewards you for volunteering with us!
Benefits of the RSVP program include:
- Liability and Supplemental Health Insurance
- Mileage Reimbursement Percentage
- Meal Reimbursement Percentage
- Annual Volunteer Recognition Celebrations
- Opportunity to meet new people and make new friends
For a RSVP program application, click here.
For a mileage/meal Reimbursement Form, click here.
Submit paperwork to Wood County Park District Volunteer Services: Jamie Sands, jsands@wcparks.org
18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green, 43402.
The RSVP program is a national grant-funded program with the National Service and Area Offices on Aging.