Wood County Park District

What Wood County Park District does

Wood County Park District is a county government agency operating as a political subdivision of Wood County, Ohio, established in 1934 under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1545 and governed by a five-member Board of Park Commissioners appointed by the Wood County Probate Court Judge. The agency manages 21-22 parks and nature preserves across more than 1,475 acres in Northwest Ohio, providing free public access to outdoor recreation, environmental education, and natural resource conservation. It serves Wood County residents, educational institutions, event organizers, and conservation volunteers through six functional departments — Administration, Park Police, Stewardship, Programs, Operations, and Construction — supported by an estimated 25-30 full-time staff. Specialized capabilities include a 2.25-acre native seed nursery at the J.C. Reuthinger Memorial Preserve that propagated 21,102 greenhouse plants plus more than 1,500 woody species in 2023, a certified Park Police Department accredited through the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board, and an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program delivered in partnership with Ohio State University Extension.

Core products and services include park facilities and grounds open daily from 8am to 30 minutes past sunset, structured public programs (nature camps, archery, canoeing, bouldering, paddling, cycling, wildlife and cultural heritage education), facility rentals (Hankison Great Room, Thompson Stone Hall, picnic shelters), and conservation volunteer opportunities coordinated through the Adopt-a-Trail and Adopt-a-Garden programs. Distribution is hybrid: direct park access for general recreation, an online reservation platform for programs and rentals, in-person and phone inquiries, and a volunteer portal built on Galaxy Digital. Marketing is event-driven, with a year-long 2025 campaign that produced ADA-Level Two website compliance, a 91% social media engagement increase, and more than 934,000 Facebook views, supported by the quarterly Oak Leaf publication and community events such as trivia nights and Giving Tuesday.

The revenue model is a hybrid public-private structure. Primary funding comes from county tax levies (first approved in 1988), with secondary revenue from facility rentals, per-participant program fees ($5-$50), Friends of the Wood County Parks membership dues at six tiers from $25 to $1,000, commemorative programs (memorial benches at $3,000, trail bricks at $100-$125), donations, and grants — most notably a $400,000-$440,000 H2Ohio restoration project at Buttonwood Park in partnership with Black Swamp Conservancy and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Friends of the Wood County Parks, a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit, anchors volunteer and donor engagement, while the Wood County Parks Foundation — launched in 2024 with the Greater Toledo Community Foundation and Bowling Green Community Foundation — enables planned giving and major-project funding.

Name

Wood County Park District

Legal name

Wood County Park District

Website

https://wcparks.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wood County Park District is a county government natural resources agency operating 21-22 parks and nature preserves across 1,475+ acres in Northwest Ohio, providing free outdoor recreation, environmental education, conservation programs, and facility rentals to county residents and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks and Recreation

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Forest Health & Protection Services (Pest/Disease, Invasive Species) (IMAMAJAF), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Public parks recreation
• Nature education programs
• Environmental conservation
• Outdoor adventure activities
• Community event facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowling Green

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Facility Rentals: Rental revenue from Hankison Great Room, Thompson Stone Hall, covered picnic shelters, and other park facilities for weddings, events, and gatherings. Discounts available for Friends members.
2. Program Fees: Fees charged for adventure programs including archery ($15/participant or $50 min), canoeing ($16-$30/participant or $50 min), bouldering ($5/participant or $50 min), and nature camps with financial assistance available.
3. Membership Dues: Friends of Wood County Parks 501(c)(3) non-profit collects membership dues at various levels: Acorn ($25), Seedling ($50), Sapling ($150), Oak lifetime ($350), Great Blue Heron corporate ($500), Eagle corporate ($1,000).
4. Donations and Grants: H2Ohio restoration project funding ($400,000-$440,000) through Ohio Department of Natural Resources; general donations; planned giving through Wood County Parks Foundation partnership with Greater Toledo Community Foundation and Bowling Green Community Foundation.
5. Commemorative Programs: Memorial Bench Program ($3,000) with personalized plaques; Commemorative Trail bricks (4x8 inch for $100, 8x8 inch for $125); Eagle Scout Project Program (up to 75% cost coverage).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wood County Park District operates and maintains over 22 publicly accessible parks and nature preserves spanning more than 1,475 acres in Wood County, Ohio, providing free outdoor recreation, environmental education programs, facility rentals, native plant conservation, and Park Police services. Core offerings include park access, structured nature programs, nature camps, recreational activities (archery, canoeing, fishing, cycling, bouldering), venue rentals for events, and volunteer-driven habitat restoration through the Native Plant Program.

Product overview

The Wood County Park District operates a network of 21 parks and nature preserves across Wood County, Ohio, offering free public access to outdoor recreation and environmental education. The core offering consists of park facilities and grounds open 365 days annually, complemented by structured public programs including nature camps, educational workshops, and recreational activities such as archery, fishing, paddling, and cycling. Additional services include facility rentals for events, a Friends membership program with benefits, volunteer conservation opportunities through the Native Plant Program, and Park Police services for visitor safety. The organization maintains a native seed nursery for habitat restoration and publishes The Oak Leaf quarterly newsletter for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Park Facilities and Grounds

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% social media engagement increase from 2025 year-long marketing campaign
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, core and moderate.

• Black Swamp ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on H2Ohio restoration project at Buttonwood Park. Project funding of $400,000-$440,000 with funds administered through Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Black Swamp Conservancy partners with the district to protect and restore natural areas in the Black Swamp region of northwest Ohio.
• Ohio Department of Natural ResourcesmajorOthers · 1 January 2025Administers H2Ohio restoration project funding ($400,000-$440,000) for Buttonwood Park restoration project. ODNR also oversees hunting permit programs at Baldwin Woods Preserve and Cricket Frog Cove through special agreements.
• Wood County Port AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership on Phase 2 of Chessie Circle Trail project to connect W.W. Knight Nature Preserve to Bates Road with 1.25 miles of additional multi-use trail. Currently in design phase with construction planned for 2027.
• Friends of the Wood County ParkscoreOthers · 1 January 2024100% volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports parks through donations, volunteer coordination, membership drives, plant sales, and advocacy. Runs Eagle Scout Project Program covering up to 75% of project costs. Operates Wood County Parks Foundation in partnership with community foundations.
• Greater Toledo Community FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Friends of the Wood County Parks to create the Wood County Parks Foundation, enabling planned gifts, stock donations, and other lasting contributions for major park projects including maintenance, land acquisition, environmental education, trail development, and new recreational opportunities.
• Bowling Green Community FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Friends of the Wood County Parks to create the Wood County Parks Foundation, enabling creative giving through planned gifts, stock, and other lasting contributions for future park projects and land acquisition.
• Ohio State University ExtensionmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Program certification, providing training and credentials for volunteer naturalists who contribute to park education and conservation efforts.
• Green Ribbon InitiativemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Wood County Park District is a proud member of the Green Ribbon Initiative, a regional conservation partnership focused on habitat restoration and conservation in the Great Lakes region.
• American Public Garden Association (APGA)moderateOthers · 1 January 2023Member since September 2023 with ex-situ collection featured on APGA map. Supports native plant conservation and knowledge sharing among public gardens.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cleveland Metroparks: Ohio's largest metropolitan park system operating the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, golf courses, and 18,000+ acres with extensive nature education and conservation programs. Broader scope but same county-level park district model in Ohio.
• Five Rivers MetroParks: Montgomery County (Dayton), Ohio metro parks district offering outdoor recreation, nature education, and conservation programming funded by property tax levies. Highly comparable operational model in the same state.
• Great Parks of Hamilton County: Hamilton County, Ohio park district operating parks, nature centers, and recreational facilities with a comparable levy-funded model and similar programming categories.
• Summit Metro Parks: Summit County (Akron), Ohio park district with 14+ parks, nature education, and conservation programming funded by tax levies. Similar scale, governance, and programming mix to Wood County Park District.
• Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks: Franklin County, Ohio metro parks district with 19+ parks, nature education programming, and facility rentals funded through property tax levies. Closely comparable structure and operating model at slightly larger scale.
• Metroparks Toledo: Lucas County, Ohio metroparks system operating multiple parks and nature preserves with similar public-access, levy-funded model directly adjacent to Wood County. Most directly comparable peer given proximity, scale, and programming model.
• Cincinnati Parks: City of Cincinnati park system managing parks, nature areas, and recreation facilities with programming similar to Wood County Park District, though municipally rather than county-operated.

Others

• Black Swamp Conservancy: Regional land conservancy in northwest Ohio partnering with WCPD on the H2Ohio Buttonwood Park restoration. Complementary ecosystem player in land conservation rather than direct recreation services provider.

Regional players

• Ohio Department of Natural Resources: State-level public agency administering the H2Ohio grant funding for WCPD and overseeing hunting permits at WCPD preserves. Funding administrator and regulatory counterpart rather than direct recreation competitor.
• Metro Parks Tacoma: Washington state metropolitan park district with similar levy-funded public parks model, though outside the Ohio/Midwest geography. Comparable in mission and operations structure.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/woodparkdist
• Facebookfacebook.com/woodcountyparkdistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wood-county-park-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wood County Park District