Nice, quiet, shady, and well kept park…read more Lots of parking and BEAUTIFUL tall trees. Lots of grass area for the kids to run and play. Lots parking too. Parking is at the top of the little hill that overlooks the whole park. If you had one sleeping kid you could totally watch the kids from the car. There is a restroom and soda machine.

I think I was here long ago, for a Civil War reenactment? Came today for the Fairy Trail party…read more Didn't realize you had to pre-register, so we just walked past the carriage rides, face-painting, swag bags, and more. Kid K said that didn't bother her, as long as we could do the trail (which is open all summer.) But we couldn't find it. Signage and maps for that are awful. We found the start of the trail, but past that, multiple branches went all over. I will say the main park trail system is well-marked with blazes, and the park map does pretty well with them. But no sign of the fairies. I had hoped we'd at least be able to follow other people since there were so many there for the party, but folks were going to all the other parts of the park too. We passed a mini zip-line area and a forest playground, but the kid wasn't interested, and eventually got worn out and just wanted to leave. So, two stars for the fairy trail portion since it needs more organization. I'm sure if we'd actually found it we'd give it more. But four or five for the park as a whole, which has loads of amenities: shelters, parking, playgrounds, dog park, restrooms (fancy pit ones,) and the mound, which I also didn't see. A big lake and a couple smaller ponds, and wetlands. Oh, well. Maybe we'll try again some other time.

Love this park! They have everything you could ask for- bathrooms, a natural play area for kids, a…read morelake for fishing or kayaking, a dog park, trails, etc. They do a great job keeping it nice.

This disc golf course is situated on Lobdell Reserve, sharing some areas with the hiking paths…read more Very serene, though I've found that Sunday mornings we do not seem to be the only people that want to spend our family time there! Trash receptacles and benches at every other hole, with pro and regular tees for most. Some long shots with gorgeous views of open grass/prairie and short technical shots in the woods. Users of the course seem to be good about using the honor system to pay $2/round and picking up their own trash. VERY nice and clean portapotty at the lot - course is mowed regularly. Help keep it that way and pay :) We call this course "church" because it is the most peaceful/inspiring way I can imagine to spend our Sunday mornings. We've met nothing but good people out there!

From the owner: Licking County park systemread more

AWESOME park, had no idea this place existed until I happened to visit Newark and find it on the…read moremap. Was not prepared for such a steep drive up the hill. This place is a mountain biking haven; most trails are off-limits to hikers, but there is a trail for hiking. Wear good shoes if you're walking a lot- Converse won't cut it. Can't wait to return with better shoes. Great views. Shelter houses, a playground, and monuments. Surely this place is packed with history- a great place to explore. Another thing- when driving to the top, there's a sign saying No Motor Vehicles, so I tried to turn the car around. DON'T do this- it's too narrow and dangerous- plus the road is one way. I kept going and was relieved to see other cars on top. There's one road up the mountain and another down, and one-way signs once you get to the top. The No Motor Vehicle signs are for the mountain bike trails.

There is a premier mountain bike trail system built into the hillside of this Newark city park. The…read moretrails here are not for the faint of heart, but are sure to guarantee plenty of opportunities to advance your skills. There are steep downhill trails at the front of the park, from the main parking lot at the top toward the road. Then from the playground in the back of the park are flow trails with some jump lines. There are multiple trail maps posted throughout the park. There is also a crew of riders here almost every day that could point you in the right direction if you happen to need help. 10/10 trail system.

Impressive park that preserves "the Great Circle" which received a UNESCO World Heritage site…read moredesignation in 2023. I came here for a quick stop while driving to Columbus, OH in mid-June 2025 for a conference. Lot of pluses in visiting this park. First, it's an important ceremonial site built between 100BC and 400AD by the Hopewell Indians with a link to astronomical patterns. It was later used as a county fairground (which allowed it to be preserved). Second, parking is free and plentiful. Third, you can walk freely around the outdoor complex and read some of the signs and displays (the scale of the Great Circle is massive). Be sure to stay off the mounds. The only downside was that the museum was closed on a Monday. I did not see a restroom facility available when the museum was closed.

There is a nice welcome center that gives you a better understanding of the Earthworks and the…read morearea. We were fortunate to talk with Chris who was on staff there the day we went and he gave us a fantastic overview of the Earthworks in the area. There are signs throughout the area there that have information if the welcome center is closed.

This place is huge and is dog friendly. There is small museum with a bathroom and gift shop. There…read moreare plaques around that tell you the history of the site. So grateful this has been preserved for everyone to visit and enjoy.

If you find yourself in Eastern Central Ohio, you must stop and learn about the Great Circle. There…read moreis no charge to visit the park. This amazing structure is one of a complex of mound structures called Earthworks located within the town of Newark. Experts estimated that the mounds were built 2000 years ago by early Hopewell inhabitants of the region. The ingenuity and sophistication of the mound structures are testaments to how brilliant these people were. The mounds served multi purpose use (based on artifacts and features). The large circle at this location was used for ceremonies and was considered sacred. A site further east was where inhabitants lived and farmed. The site north served as an astronomy/calendar, accurately predicting the movement of the sun, moon and stars. Today, the site is preserved and protected. Interesting, the large circle once housed the county fair in the mid 1900's, which protected the area from development. The interpretative center is opened part of the week. A short film and displays describe the mounds. Kerri, the interpretive guide, was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable. She spent a lot of time with us, describing the sites and providing direction to other sites. Our dog was welcomed in the center, which was good because it was too hot to leave him in the car. They had a bowl of treats for dogs near the entrance. Dog walking bags are near the entrance to the park. There is plenty of free parking at the park and a few picnic tables. Paths are paved so strollers and wheel chairs can move easily. While there is no admission fee, donations are accepted.k

Needing a place to picnic since not all restaurants are open, I spotted this online. And then had…read moreto find it. Turn in at the main YMCA entrance, then angle back to the left. This is a big park, right next to the Y, and there are plenty of parking areas at each. Large grassy areas, plenty of shade, the pool, courts, etc. A bridge across the highway. A dog corral (or kid corral?) Bike paths. I did not see a playground in the park itself, but there is one at the Y. A lovely, fairly large park in the middle of town, with plenty of activities possible, and, what I needed, a shady spot for lunch. Glad I came.