By Lindsay Doty
A grand opening will be held April 27 for Washington Township’s new Helen Pecar Park, 5203 E County Rd 150 N in Avon.
The park includes a playground, campgrounds, trails, a pond with access to kayaking, outdoor classrooms, a low challenge rope course (opening in the fall) and a nature center.
The event will have a ribbon cutting followed by family activities. Guests will be able to check out the park and join in on relays and games from 4 to 6 p.m. Nature experts will also be on hand.
“We are very excited to get the park open and we think it’s going to be an asset to the community,” Washington Township Parks and Recreation Park Director Lora Lacey said. “Something we struggle with is getting people to attend nature programs and we think this park is going to be the link.”
A huge focus of the park will be the nature center that includes live animals and interactive areas, along with a nature library to encourage children to learn about the outdoors.
“We have these Sulcata Tortoises we rescued that are really interesting. They have a little door, so they are able to walk around our nature center,” explains recreation coordinator Trilby Berry-Tayman about some of the wildlife.
The other big draw will be the park’s primitive campgrounds. They will include a nod to vintage camping with tents and campfires. There will be no RVs or electricity allowed. The park’s slogan is “Get lost in the right direction.”
Helen Pecar Park Grand Opening
5203 E County Rd 150 N
April 27
3-4 p.m. ribbon cutting
4-6 p.m. Park will be open to public
