Following the war years, the emerging “baby boom” produced a growing need for increased recreational lands and outdoor opportunities. In 1945, the Division of Forestry released a 20-Year plan for establishing a more adequate system of state forests and forest parks in Ohio.
The plan called for the creation of new forests and forest-parks. The goal was to “invest” in Ohio's future by purchasing 587,823 acres of additional forests at an estimated cost of nearly $7,000,000. Though never fully realized, the plan nonetheless spurred the legislature to appropriate an amazing $1.5 toward the effort.
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| Ohio Map showing State Forest and Forest Park Purchase Units made during the 1940s. Click on photo for a larger view. |
By the end of the 1940s, more than 32,000 acres had been added to the system, and the following state forests were created: Yellow Creek, Shade River, Richland Furnace, Maumee, Memorial (at Mohican), Athens (now Strouds Run State Park), and the forest-parks of Hueston Woods and Beaver Creek – both of which are now state parks. State forests stood proud at 138,628 acres.
In 1949, the Ohio legislature was determined to unify various state agencies with natural resource responsibilities. The result was the creation of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Of particular note was the consolidation of recreation areas under the newly created Division of Parks. The “forest-park” areas managed by the Division of Forestry were combined with the Canal Lands from the Department of Public Works to create a new state park system. All lands in five state forests and portions of seven others were transferred to this new division.
The remaining state forests continued to be managed for their original purposes: long-term forest management, demonstration of proper forestry practices, and revenue production. Recreation responsibilities were not totally lost, however, as state forests continued to provide areas for “back-country” activities.
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