In the thirty-plus years of living in the Findlay area there are many happy memories connected to the Hancock Park District.  In addition to the family fun times at the various parks with the kids, and now the grand kids, are park sponsored events, the quiet walks, the little surprises that "Mother Nature" can give at an unexpected moment.

At Oakwoods Nature Preserve the cold beauty of fresh snow blanketing every tree, twig and bush.  Finding, during a naturalist-led spring hike, two and four leafed trilliums in a closed area of the park. Seeing the wildflowers along the path; Spring Beauties, Violets, Dutchmen's Breeches, an occasional Jack-in-the-pulpit and the very odd flowering of the Green Dragon.  The fun and frustration of trying to identify warblers during migration! Watching the Hairy Woodpecker feeding grubs to their young in a tree cavity.  The twinkling of countless fireflies in the woods during the July, 2009 Full Moon Night Hike.  Smelling the scent of Bergamot in the Oakwoods Prairie. Walking through the autumn woods bathed in the gold of maple and spice-bush.

Enjoying the "hills" at Litzenberg.  The white trillium and bluish Hepatica that come back in the same area year after year.  The Bloodroots, Wild Geraniums, white and yellow Trout Lilies, the patch of ferns in sight of the path in the back woods.  Seeing the evasive and not very common woodpecker of our area - the Pileated.  Being serenaded by a wood thrush on a warm spring evening. A very unusual fungus by the stream under one of the bridge walkways. 

Riverbend's wetland area where squirming tadpoles made the water alive on a very warm day in spring. Having friendly Chipping Sparrows forage of insects near your table. Watching a Yellow-breasted Chat feeding young; which are almost as large as the parent bird. The woodsy smells during a Night Hike and hearing the tiny 'whinny' of a Screech Owl. The falling autumn leaves and the rustle of the leaves as you walk the paths. Wondering what tales the Big Oak by the river could tell, if the tree could talk.