Geauga Park District recently announce that its 28th and newest park, Troy Wetlands, has claimed a third place award in the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association’s 2024 Annual Awards of Excellence. Troy Wetlands was chosen for this honor in the awards category for Capital Improvement Projects – Up to $500,000, according to a news release. “The 60-acre park is 55 percent marshland and could have easily just become a nice place to stop by and look out over the water,” the district stated in the release. “Instead, Park District staff made it worthy of statewide recognition.” Five hundred linear feet of boardwalk weave through mixed emergent wetlands, and a wooden overlook is elevated 12 feet over the water to vastly extend views of the property’s flora and fauna. Three park planners and an in-house construction team of five, led by Construction Foreman Isaiah Shipman, made this vision a reality with the help of a $16,409 NatureWorks grant through the ODNR. “It’s exciting to have a new park in this area of Geauga County,” Geauga Park District Executive Director John Oros stated in the release. “The location off state Route 700 in Troy Township is unique. It aligns with our goal to better serve our residents by providing a park within 15-minutes driving distance of their homes. “Hopefully this recognition for Troy Wetlands by our peer organization makes residents even more proud of their Park District and the special work we are empowered to do to make these places and experiences accessible to everyone at all times of year.” In its first year, Troy Wetlands has already risen to the top of the list of Geauga County birding hotspots, accruing the highest number of species reported in any Geauga Park District park, 170 in total, according to eBird.org. Countywide, the park is only second to LaDue Reservoir in total 2024 sightings. Troy Wetlands opened on Thanksgiving Eve 2023, and car counters have since reflected its rising popularity, recording 3,635 vehicles from early May through October. “Parks and recreation professionals throughout Ohio work every day to improve the quality of life of the people they serve,” OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward stated in the release. “This effort is a shining example of that kind of work, and we are pleased to be able to present this award. … The competition for awards was stiff this year, and applicants were subjected to rigorous judging.” The OPRA’s Awards of Excellence are judged each year by a panel of peer professionals from all over Ohio.