1400 Oakwoods Lane, Findlay (off County Road 144)
History: Originally, a privately owned picnic and fishing area, Oakwoods is a successful community preservation effort. Grants and private donations helped the HPD purchase the original woods and lake in 1984, opening to the public in 1985. Railroad tracks and buildings were located in the area of the Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center, but were destroyed by fire in 1916. The Discovery Center was dedicated and opened to the public in 1994.
Please excuse our mess. Currently, the boardwalk and restrooms are closed due to construction at the Discovery Center; however, port-a-johns have been put in place for public access. The new parking lot, located between the Discovery Center and Shank Lake, will be completed by late fall with new asphalt, lights, and striping. Please feel free to drive back the service drive, located along the railroad tracks, and use the new gravel parking lot at the back. Renovations to the Discovery Center are expected to be completed by early October. Watch for our re-grand opening in this fall.
Features:
- 75 acres of wooded forest
- 79 acres of farm land
- “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center
- picnic site available on porch of Discovery Center
- Wetland Window on Wildlife (wildlife viewing area)
- Shank Lake (public fishing, 9 acres, non-motorized boats)
- kiosk with interpretive panels
- fishing deck (handicapped access)
- overlook deck with rest area
- fishing access areas around the lake
- drinking water well (open seasonally)
- trail system (TRAILS CHART)
- restrooms (composting)
- prairie (PRAIRIE BROCHURE)
OAKWOODS NATURE PRESERVE MAP
