Join us for the Spring Membership meeting!
Sunday, April 23, 2023 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Otsego Park, 20000 West River Drive, Bowling Green, OH 43402
Enjoy a light lunch and presentation with Friends!
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
Sign up for the Friends e-Newsletter
The Friends of the Parks Birdseed Sale
Each autumn, the Friends of the Parks host a birdseed sale. Purchase quality birdseed at a good price AND support the Friends of the Parks at the same time. Watch this page for more information as autumn approaches.
2022 Photo Contest
8th 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 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 can be found here. 
Thank you to Main Street Photo for their support!
2021 7th Annual Friends of the Wood County Parks Photo Contest Winners
Landscape
1st Place: William Garrett, “Wintry View”
2nd Place: Jen Pollard, “Spring Approaches”
3rd Place: Tony Everhardt, “Cotton Candy Sunset”
Plant Life
1st Place: Greg Predmore, “Shaggy Mane”
2nd Place: Jim Mathews, “Sunflower (sp) Head”
3rd Place: Gaynelle Predmore, “PawPaw Bloom”
Wildlife
1st Place: Jim Mathews, “American Goldfinch”
2nd Place: William Garrett, “Airing Out (Common Merganser)”
3rd Place: Greg Predmore, “Tree Swallow”
People’s Choice
Landscape: Tony Everhardt, “Cotton Candy Sunset”
Plant Life: Gaynelle Predmore, “Morel”
Wildlife: Greg Predmore, “Yellowlegs (Greater Sandpiper)”
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
2022 Officers
President – Candace Weis – Bowling Green
Vice President –
Secretary –
Treasurer – Laura Arnold – Perrysburg
Current Trustees
Laura Arnold——————————-Perrysburg
Gloria Box—————————- Grand Rapids
Todd Brininger———————-Bowling Green
Virginia (Ginny) Dean—————- Waterville
Sue Frankforther————————Maumee
Bill Hale———————————– Haskins
Jim Mathews——————————–Genoa
Ranaye McLaughlin—————— Northwood
Stephanie Nesper———————-Perrysburg
Debbie Newlove————————Bowling Green
Candace Weis——————— 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.