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May
13
Written by:
news editor
5/13/2011 1:00 AM
Seven Ohio State Parks have received Service Excellence Awards, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
COLUMBUS, OH – Seven Ohio State Parks have received Service Excellence Awards, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The awards are based on customer feedback, including customer satisfaction surveys, and are given annually to individual parks in recognition of outstanding facilities, helpful staff and friendly volunteers.
Wingfoot Lake State Park in Portage County was ranked by visitors as the best day-use park in the state park system. A former private retreat for Goodyear employees, Wingfoot Lake opened to the public in August 2010 as Ohio’s newest state park. In addition to scenic picnic areas and six large picnic shelters that may be rented for outdoor functions, the park offers boat rentals, mini golf and numerous free facilities including a disc golf course, basketball and sand volleyball courts, bocce ball and badminton courts, playgrounds, horseshoes and cornhole.
For the second consecutive year, Jackson Lake State Park in Jackson County was the visitors’ top choice among state parks with campgrounds offering fewer than 100 campsites. The quiet wooded campground has 34 spacious campsites that offer 50-amp electrical hookups. The park’s 107-acre lake is ideal for paddling, fishing, and swimming. Volunteer groups are active in the park and provide a number of valuable services and special events.
The top state park campground offering more than 100 campsites, but fewer than 200, is at West Branch State Park in Portage County. Visitors have ranked this popular campground highest among state park campgrounds several times since renovations have provided 155 campsite with 50-amp electrical service, new restroom and shower buildings, and 29 full hook-up sites with water, sewer and electric. There is a campers’ swimming beach close by, and several lakeside sites along with a boat launch ramp in the campground appeal to campers who come with boats in tow to enjoy the 2,600-acre, unlimited horsepower lake.
Maumee Bay State Park’s campground was ranked by campers as the top state park campground with more than 200 campsites. Located in Lucas County on the Lake Erie shore, Maumee Bay provides access to the great lake, as well as a small inland lake perfect for swimming and sailing. The modern campground has 252 electric sites bordered by meadows and ponds for easy shoreline fishing. Campers can also enjoy exploring the park on paved bicycle trails, playing a round at the park’s 18-hole golf course, and visiting the nature center and boardwalk trail.
For the fourth consecutive year, park guests who spent the night in an Ohio State Park lodge and conference center gave top billing to the Mohican State Park lodge in Ashland County. The lodge offers comfortable accommodations and friendly service in a scenic outdoor setting. Each of the 96 guest rooms features a private balcony, and guests can also enjoy food service in the full-service dining room and lounge, and relaxation in the sauna and Olympic-size indoor and outdoor pools.
The cottages at Pymatuning State Park in Ashtabula County received the highest ratings from customers who chose a state park cottage for a weekend getaway or Ohio vacation. The park offers 23 two-bedroom cottages with furnished living and dining areas, gas fireplaces, complete kitchens, bathrooms with showers and screened porches. One premium cottage also features a sun room with a hot tub, while 32 modestly priced basic cottages have an open floor plan with sleeping facilities for four. The woodland cottages are situated near the 14,000 acre lake, which is popular for swimming, boating and fishing.
The Malabar Farm State Park Visitor Center was ranked highest among nature centers in Ohio State Parks. This “green” facility features geothermal heating and cooling, solar and wind power technologies, a gift shop stocked with environmentally friendly products, and displays that educate visitors about the sustainable practices on the park’s working farm. A songbird aviary adjacent to the visitor center is a popular attraction. Since the visitor center was established in 2006 through a partnership with the Malabar Farm Foundation, it has served as a hub for educational programs and events.
“We are proud of our hard working staff and volunteers, and their efforts to make sure that our park visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience in our parks," said David Payne, chief of Ohio State Parks. "Visitor feedback is our best tool for identifying what we are doing well, how we can improve, and recognizing the best of the best."
The state park Service Excellence Award winners are determined by surveys completed by park visitors. More than 8,800 survey cards were returned to Ohio State Parks last year, and nearly 93% of those who responded rated their overall visit as excellent or good. To be eligible for the award, a park must receive at least 100 survey responses. The awards were presented during the annual Ohio State Parks Managers Conference at Hocking Hills State Park.
More than 50 million visitors enjoyed the natural beauty and quality facilities of Ohio's state parks last year. The park system is home to nine resort lodges, more than 500 cottages, six golf courses and 56 family campgrounds with more than 9,000 campsites. For additional information, visit www.ohiostateparks.org.
The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
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For more information, contact:
Jean Backs, ODNR Ohio State Parks
614. 265. 7077
Jason Fallon, ODNR Office of Communications
614. 265. 6842
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