Mission Statement of the Hancock Park District is to create, preserve, protect, restore and manage a system of parks, nature preserves, and outdoor recreational facilities to be held in public ownership with a focus on local, natural, historical, and cultural resources and maintained for the leisure use, education and enjoyment of this and future generations.
What's New
Job Opportunities Available with HPD
Ever considered employment with the Hancock Park District? Applications are now being accepted for qualified individuals seeking employment with HPD. Seasonal positions are also available including one Waterfront Manager, three Waterfront Aides, and four Park Service Persons.
Complete Job Descriptions for all positions including qualifications, responsibilities and compensation, and Employment Application are provided in the “Get Connected/Job Opportunities” section of the website to download. Please follow the application process completely.
Further questions can be directed to the Hancock Park District office during normal business hours (M-F, 8am – 4:30pm) at 419-425-7275.
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Join Natural Resources Coordinator Sarah Betts on Wednesdays March 24 - May 12 at 1pm at the Litzenberg Memorial Woods Gatehouse, located near the parking lot, or Thursdays March 25 - May 20 at 1pm at the Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center to depart. Monitoring participants will seek,
count, identify, and record flowering plants in the parks. Those interested in photography are encouraged to bring their camera to capture the beauty. Natural history and historical uses will be shared throughout the sessions. Prior experience or equipment is not necessary to attend, and no registration is necessary. Attendance is not required at every session, just show up. In the event of some weather conditions, times may vary. Please call the HPD office to verify outings.
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Help Us Plant 40 Trees for 40 Years
Continue to help the parks grow and plant 40 new trees as part of Hancock Park District's 40th Anniversary as part of our annual Arbor Day celebration April 30. Your tax deductible donation of $100, made payable to the Hancock Parks Foundation, will cover the purchase of a tree to be planted at Riverbend Recreation Area. Your tree can be planted as a memorial/celebration of an individual, symbolize a special occasion/date or just show support for the Hancock Parks System.
Tree varieties including ginkgo, scarlet oak, red maple, swamp white oak, bur oak, and Turkish filbert will be coordinated by HPD's forestry/natural resources team. Locations have 
been identified for the best locations throughout Riverbend. All sponsored trees will be added to the "master planting plan" and will be planted during the last two weeks of April. These new trees will also help to replace ash trees that have or will be affected by the Emerald Ash Borer and will be coming down. Individuals, families, organizations or businesses are encouraged to help with the planting process also. Please indicate your interest in helping with your donation.
Please call HPD Headquarters at 419-425-7275 to make arrangements to sponsor a tree and join us for our official tree planting ceremony. A limited number of trees are still available for sponsorship. Support your Hancock Parks by sponsoring a tree today!
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Help us celebrate HPD's 40th anniversary at our annual Arbor Day celebration event on Friday, April 30 with a noontime tree planting ceremony in Payne Arboretum at Riverbend Recreation Area. A celebration tree will be planted to mark this special occasion. Afterwards, a picnic lunch will be 
served in Brugeman Lodge along with a PowerPoint presentation on the development and progress of Riverbend over the years. The event is a cooperative effort of HPD, Hancock Parks Foundation, Hancock Friends of the Parks and many generous donors.
Reservations are required to attend the lunch portion of the event by calling the HPD office by Monday, April 26 at 419-425-7275. Donations will be accepted to cover lunch expenses.
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Historic Marion Twp Rd 241 Iron Bridge Preservation Project Starts
Saving the TR 241 Bridge has been accomplished in October 2009 with its move off the river and into Riverbend Park nearby. Now the preservation work starts by the Park District in cooperation with the Hancock Parks Foundation and the Ohio Historic Bridge Association. The history of this bridge as an engineering landmark and the preservation work are attracting much attention around the Midwest. Site work 
to gain access to the structure is planned for spring 2010, along with painting the structure. Volunteers and funds are needed as this project moves forward. A new brochure is now available and can be downloaded from this website. Stop by and see the progress.
View the Historic 1895 Bridge Project - Brochure .Pdf
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