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July 27, 2006
NATURAL RESOURCES PARK AT THE UPCOMING STATE FAIR
WILL FEATURE THE BEST OF OHIO’S NATURAL WORLD
COLUMBUS, OH - The 8-acre Natural Resources Park at the upcoming Ohio State Fair will again put the best of Ohio’s natural world on display for fairgoers. This year’s fair runs 12 days, from Wednesday, August 2, through Sunday, August 13, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.
A cool, green oasis that offers shade trees, waterfalls, picnic groves and a variety of educational and recreational activities, the Natural Resources Park at the southeast corner of the Expo Center is a fair favorite. Managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), park attractions include a walk-through butterfly garden, a popular kids’ fishing pond, Ohio wildlife displays, log-rolling lumberjacks and other live entertainment, as well as a 15-foot animated Smokey Bear who greets visitors by name.
The park’s 500-seat amphitheater stage is newly renovated this year and will provide the backdrop for a variety of acts from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. This year’s entertainment includes the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, featuring Sandy Mae, the log-rolling Jack Russell terrier; Columbus Zoo animals; retriever dog demonstrations on the weekends, “Kids and Boating” interactive boating safety programs, along with musical and educational activities.
The kids’ fishing pond has been improved this year and is fully stocked with catfish and bluegills. Children age 14 and younger may fish daily from 11:30 a.m. through late afternoon. All poles and tackle are provided by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. The division also offers hands-on demonstrations of outdoors skills, including a laser-shot simulator and archery range.
A new Outdoor Adventure Center, located in the heart of the park, will contain a variety of displays, allowing fair visitors to plan their recreational activities for every season of the year.
A fully furnished Conestoga camper cabin, on display at the park’s main entrance, will encourage visitors to explore Ohio State Parks’ popular Getaway rentals, a program for families who want to experience nature without investing in camping equipment. While at the fair, visitors can also reserve a campsite or cottage in an Ohio State Park via the online reservation system at the ODNR Information Center.
Smokey Bear stands beside an educational pavilion filled with informative exhibits on a variety of natural resource and recreation topics, including boating, wildlife, water resources, geology, recycling, coastal management, mining and conservation.
Hundreds of live butterflies greet those walking through the park’s colorful butterfly house. Nearby, a live wildlife exhibit features animals native to Ohio, including a bobcat, river otters, wild turkeys and a bald eagle. Just steps away is an authentic log cabin, standing beside a tall-grass prairie. A boardwalk made of recycled plastic takes visitors through the prairie landscape, which is similar to the thick fields of wildflowers that once covered much of Ohio.
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