Vivid Memories

By Paul & Betsy Kreidler - Findlay, OH

Our first interaction with the Parks was when Tim Brugeman, HPD Park Director, came to Blanchard Valley School in the mid-1980's and inquired about the students participating in the VIP program in some way. I was involved with the school as the "horticultural therapist technician" and was thrilled to be able to work with the students to plant up the whiskey barrels at Riverside Parks.

Our next vivid memory was when Paul and I walked out to Riverbend from our home on Center Street to prepare for a hike on the Appalachian Trail.  I don't remember the exact year, maybe in the 1990's. In the event of rain, we'd taken a car out to the campground early in the day. We'd had a lovely, but windy evening roasting hot dogs, and one of Paul's case worker's and her family came out to share the campfire with us. We went knowing it was to rain during the night, but never dreaming we'd wake to a torrential downpour that literally drove us out of the tent and into our car shortly after midnight. We expected to return later in the day after the rain stopped. We returned, but found the river had risen surrounded the campground, leaving our campsite on an island! Fortunately, Dawn LaRoche, HPD Ranger, was available to take us by rowboat up to the campsite, helped us load up our soggy tent and gear and row us back to dry land. We'd been rained out of a camping experience before, but never flooded out!

One of our spring traditions has been taking a walk in one of the parks, usually Litzenberg, to see the wildflowers. We've never been disappointed as there are always lots of spring beauties, dogtooth violets, May apples, Dutchmen's breetches, wild geraniums, yellow and purple violets, wood anemones, skunk cabbage and others I can't remember blooming and thriving in the many nooks and crannies of the trailside hills and rills.Oh yes, one more.  I'm not a lover of winter sports, but in the late 1980's I tried cross-country skiing at Riverbend and loved it.  The activity kept me toasty warm the entire time.We've walked the majority of each park's trails and have always marveled at the extent of the wild, green spaces in this well-ploughed county. 

The many guided nature tours led by the parks' naturalists have made us aware of flora and fauna in a way that books never teach.  We are grateful for the many opportunities supplied to use by the Hancock Parks as well as all the adults and children who have realized the rejuvenating and healing power of nature.

Best of everything in your 40th celebration!