Findley State Park
State park in Wellington, Ohio, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Findley State Park is an Ohio state park located in Wellington, a small village in northern Ohio, United States. It was originally known as the Findley State Forest. A dam forming a lake was completed in 1956.[1] The forest area became a state park in 1950, with a size of 838 acres (339 ha), after it was donated to Lorain County by Judge Guy B. Findley c. 1936.[2] Findley later served as the president of the Ohio Forestry Association and vice president of the American Forestry Association.[3]
| Findley State Park | |
|---|---|
Lake view at Findley State Park | |
  Location in Ohio  Findley State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Wellington, Ohio, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°08′N 82°13′W |
| Area | 838 acres (339 ha) |
| Created | 1950 |
| Administered by | Ohio Department of Natural Resources |
| Designation | Ohio state park |
| Website | Findley State Park |
History
Findley donated the lands to the state, with the condition that they would "forever be used exclusively as a state forest for the production of timber and for experiment with forestry projects."[4] The Cleveland Press later described it as "the judge's personal weapon in a long fight against juvenile delinquency".[5]
Between 1937 and 1939, the Civilian Conservation Corps planted approximately 200,000 trees inside the park.[6][7] Findley himself helped to plant trees, on his days off or after court sessions.[8] Later expansions to the park included an allocation of $150,000 from the state in 1963 for construction of campground amenities,[9] and funding for 150 new camp sites in 1968.[10]
State parks in Ohio, including Findley State Park, were shut down on September 7, 1971, due to a failure to pass a new budget. The closings were planned to be indefinite, until a budget had been reached.[11] This was unpopular, and a petition with over 19,000 signatures protesting the park closings was turned in a month later.[12] The governor rejected the petition, and his response was criticized for saying that Ohio was both a wealthy state but in need of a new tax.[13] The parks eventually reopened on November 5.[14]
Activities
The property offers hiking and mountain biking trails. It connects to the Buckeye Trail. There is also a 93 acres (38 ha) lake open to paddlecraft. It also has camping and an 18 hole disc golf course. Fishing, trapping, and waterfowl hinting are also offered. A visitor center and nature center offers seasonal programming. There are picnic tables, grills, shelter areas, and a 435 foot (133 m) swimming beach.[15] A map of the park is online.[16]
The park was formerly a hunting area, before protests by campers of squirrel hunting during the fall of 1966 leading to it being disallowed the next year.[17] As of 2026[update], hunting migratory waterfowl is permitted in some parts of the park, while deer, beaver, and otter hunting and trapping permission can be received via lottery.[15]
The Friends of Findley State Park, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2004 to help preserve and maintain the park.[18]
The park includes pine forest, hardwoods, and meadows.[19] An archery range was planned for the park in 2022.[20]