Status Updates
- The Board of Park Commissioners encourages voluntary mask use, maintaining physical distancing, and washing hands often.
- Park properties are free and open daily from 8:00 am until 30 minutes past sunset.
- Facility Open Views – see the event venues!
- Otsego, Thomson Stone Hall – 1st Monday; 7-8 pm
- W.W. Knight, Great Room – 1st Wednesday; 7-8 pm
Newsletter
Register for the once-per-month e-Newsletter.
Kayak Demo Day
Sunday, June 4, 2023; 11 am – 3 pm
Location TBA; check social media for details
Thinking about getting into kayaking this paddling season? Come to the pond to try out kayaks of all shapes and sizes! Experienced local kayakers and kayaking instructors will be on hand to answer any questions, point out differences between boat types and features, outfit you with PFDs and paddles, and educate you on all things safe-kayaking. All participants must sign a release of liability at the event before being allowed to kayak. Must be 11 years of age or older to kayak; legal guardian must be present. No registration is needed. Arrive and leave as you wish during the event. FREE!
Wild Lights 2023
The Wild Lights event was a great success!
Check out the highlight video here.
THANK YOU to the 800+ people, who over the course of three days, made Wild Lights Weekend even more spectacular than the lights themselves! There was dancing, laughing, learning, amazement, smiling faces, and lots of great memories. 2023 was the third year for the Wild Lights imaginative lighted animal displays and saw the addition of an indoor space with a winter photo stop, hot chocolate, cookies, and pretend snowballs.
Congratulations to the winners!
1st $150 “For the Fun of it!” | Black Bear
2nd $100 “Maneo Minnows” | Browsing Buck
3rd $50 “The Downey and Lopez/Meek Families” | Doe and Turkey
Community members adopted 3D foam animal displays and decorated them with lights. The contest is free to enter and is a great team-building activity for offices, organizations, and service groups.
We are thankful for our community partners!
Thank you to the Way Library of Perrysburg for their creative and inspiring display.
Thank you to the Friends of the Wood County Park District for sponsoring the contest prize funds and the hot cocoa & cookies inside the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve Nature Center. Become a Friend today!
Add your name to the interest list to receive information about participating in Wild Lights 2024.
2022 Annual Report
Learn about the accomplishments and results from 2022 by the Wood County Park District. Click here for the full annual report. We are passionate about our mission and proud to serve Wood County, Ohio.
Go Green 2022
Go green and earn green things.
Participate in the Go Green program by self-stamping the Go Green Passport when you make green choices and visit parks. Redeem your passport at Park District Headquarters for green giveaways.
Click here for a printable passport.
Click here for the text version and more information.
2022 Photo 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. 
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.
Heritage flours for sale!
Sustainably grown and harvested cornmeal,
buckwheat flour, and wheat flour from the
Carter Historic Farm are available for
purchase on site. The farm buildings are
open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 – 4 pm.
These quality products were grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
Thank you for supporting the sustainable heritage practices at the Carter Historic Farm.
Go Green
Print a Go Green Passport and Go Green by visiting parks and participating in at-home go green action steps. This self-guided journey is more than just a valuable experience. This is a fun way to be rewarded for your participation while being a good steward of the Earth.
Accomplish three Go Green activities from each of ten categories. Redeem your passport for a bamboo utensils, chopsticks & straw set. Have the whole family participate on one passport and each member receives a bamboo set. Accomplish six items from each Go Green Category and receive your choice of a campfire mug or a park t-shirt.
Please call 419-353-1897 before picking up your prize from Park District Headquarters, 18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green. Prize pick-up days are Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.
Text version of the Go Green Passport found here.
Down on the Farm
The Carter Historic Farm is a working farm and cultural heritage agricultural center interpreted to the Depression-era. The buildings are open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 – 4 pm. The park grounds are open daily from 8:00 am until 30 minutes past sunset. To keep up-to-date with what’s happening on the farm, visit the Carter Historic Farm Facebook page.
Videos
Follow the WC Parks YouTube Channel.
Check out this video tour of the Sawyer Quarry Nature Preserve.
Just Nature
Just Nature: Sunset over the Maumee River
Just Nature: Babbling Brook
Commemorative Trail
Say it forever with an engraved brick at the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve.
An 8 x 8 inch brick with 5 lines of text is $125. A 4 x 8 inch brick with 3 lines of text is $100. Order forms must be mailed or delivered to the Park District Headquarters located at 18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
Please make checks payable to the Friends of the Wood County Parks. This is a fundraiser and the proceeds go to the Friends of the Parks who support park amenities, activities and beautification.
Click here for a Brick Order Form. Engraved bricks are added to the trail twice a year, at the end of November and the end of May.