COLUMBUS, OH - Ten Ohio State Parks have received Service Excellence Awards, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The awards are based on customer satisfaction surveys and are given annually to individual parks in recognition of outstanding facilities.
For the second consecutive year, Quail Hollow State Park in Stark County received awards for most outstanding picnic areas and most outstanding trails.
Other state parks receiving Service Excellence Awards were: Lake Milton State Park in Mahoning County, Headlands Beach State Park in Lake County, Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County, Harrison Lake State Park in Fulton County, Mohican State Park in Ashland County, Deer Creek State Park in Pickaway County, Rocky Fork State Park in Highland County and Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County. "Parks singled out for the Service Excellence Awards have received the highest praise from the people who matter most - the visitors," said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks.
"They set the standards for customer service and we are pleased to recognize that fact." Service Excellence Award winners are determined by surveys completed by park visitors and more than 10,000 survey cards were returned to Ohio State Parks last year. To be eligible for the award, a park must receive at least 100 survey responses in a particular facility category such as cottages, golf course or beach.
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score, the facilities and parks receiving the highest scores were:
- Quail Hollow State Park in Stark County for its picnic areas and variety of trails. The picnic areas received an overall score of 4.5 and the trails were rated 4.7.
- Headlands Beach State Park in Lake County for its boating facilities, which received a total score of 4.4.
- Lake Milton State Park in Mahoning County for its outstanding beach, which received a score of 4.4 from users.
- Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County for the most outstanding visitors' center, with a score of 4.7.
- Harrison Lake State Park in Fulton County- home to the system's outstanding Getaway Rentals, with a score of 4.7. The park's campground offers yurts, canvas structures on wooden platforms, for rent. * Mohican State Park in Ashland County for its cottages. The average score was 4.4.
- Deer Creek State Park in Pickaway County for its 18-hole golf course. The course scored 4.5 with visitors.
- Rocky Fork State Park in Highland County for it campground. The campground's score was 4.4.
- Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County for its resort lodge. Visitors scored the lodge an average of 4.3.
More than 55 million visitors enjoyed the natural beauty and quality facilities of Ohio's state parks last year. Ohio's award-winning park system is home to eight resort lodges, more than 500 cottages, six golf courses and 56 family campgrounds with more than 9,000 campsites. A ninth resort lodge is scheduled to open in May at Geneva State Park in Ashtabula County. For additional information, visit the ODNR web site at ohiodnr.com .