Robb Clifford, Director/Secretary
Every year, I find myself torn between which is my favorite season: spring or autumn. Honestly, I seem to change my mind at the start of each one! But there's something about spring that truly invigorates the soul. After the grayness of winter, the fresh green landscapes, soothing birdsong, and vibrant splashes of color are a welcome sight. Just this morning, with the recent time change, I walked out to the chicken coop, and enjoyed the chorus of Robins, Cardinals, Red-wing Blackbirds, and Chickadees that filled the air—what a refreshing start to my day!
These signs of spring are on full display in our parks, too. I encourage you to carve out some time to explore your favorite park—or perhaps try a new one—in the coming weeks to experience this season of renewal firsthand. If you're the type to enjoy company (or prefer a guided experience), I'd invite you to join me on one of my monthly “Birding with the Director” hikes, held every third Wednesday of the month this spring. Please register on our website so I can keep you updated if the schedule changes or the weather has other plans.
I'm also excited to share some updates that are coming to the Park District. Some improvements will be visible to the public soon, while others are still in the planning stages—but progress is definitely happening! One of the most important items we’re working on involves YOUR input. We're collaborating with an Ohio-based company to conduct a county-wide survey, and we need to hear from YOU! It only takes 10 minutes to complete, and your responses will help guide the Park District's strategic plan for the next 5 to 7 years. Whether you visit the parks daily or attend special events, your feedback is invaluable. Your input will help us ensure that everyone finds something meaningful in our parks. We know many of you are happy with our work, but your thoughts will help us continue to improve. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey here: https://www.research.net/r/DarkeCountyParks2025
Some of the improvements we’ve heard about, through feedback, are already in the works. One request we’ve received is improved trail navigation to help visitors stay on the right track. We're almost done updating the park kiosks’ maps, and we'll be rebuilding a few older kiosks this year. As part of our ongoing improvements, we'll also be installing new wayfinding markers along our trails throughout the year. Shawnee Prairie Preserve will be the first to get these new wayfinding posts, which will help visitors connect trail maps (or app maps) to their current location. This will make it easier for you to know where you are, where you’d like to explore next, and how to get back to your car. Over the coming years, we’ll be expanding this new map and signage system to our other preserves. We’ve heard this request from trail users for years, and I’m thrilled we can finally make it happen.
Another exciting update for the spring is the launch of our new app! This app, part of the OuterSpatial network, will help you navigate all our trails—natural, paved, and water routes—more easily. It will also allow you to report issues, stay up-to-date on trail closures, and receive event updates. With features like navigation, safety enhancements, and the ability to report problems (like fallen trees or graffiti) through geo-stamped photos, this app will help us address concerns quickly.
One app feature I’m especially excited about is the new “Challenges”! This interactive feature will add additional fun and excitement to your park visits. We’re aiming to offer rotating monthly, seasonal, event-specific, and annual challenges. You might be asked to visit a specific park, “check-in” with a photo, or embark on a scavenger hunt to find hidden QR codes scattered throughout the parks. These challenges will give you extra reasons to explore our parks—and we plan to make them even more exciting with incentives! We’ll be offering unique collectible magnets for many of these challenges, and we’re working with local businesses to offer rewards to those who complete them.
Yes, I think spring may be my favorite season… at least for today!