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Park district wins its first state award

The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek District has been honored for its Peek at the Creek program.

Trisha Grady Hannah, program coordinator for the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Park District, shows off the district's Outstanding Preschool Program award from Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Executive Director Woody Woodward.

Contributed photo Trisha Grady Hannah, program coordinator for the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Park District, shows off the district's Outstanding Preschool Program award from Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Executive Director Woody Woodward.

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By Jeremy P. Kelley, Staff Writer 2:16 PM Wednesday, February 10, 2010

BELLBROOK — The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Park District received its first Ohio Parks and Recreation Association award of excellence in January, winning for its 2009 Peek at the Creek program for preschoolers at Magee Park along the Little Sugarcreek.

The association reviews submissions from park districts around the state on its programs or facilities and rates them as superior, outstanding, meritorious or honorable mention.

Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Parks joined Miamisburg and Centerville-Washington Twp. as the only Miami Valley park districts to receive outstanding ratings.

“Peek at the Creek is one of our longest-running programs, but we wanted to make it more hands-on and educational last year,” said program coordinator Trisha Grady Hannah. “It was really planned as a hands-on experience to introduce preschoolers to amphibians and reptiles, and what would be living in a creek.”

The Aug. 21 event featured a story area, a craft area, a discovery area that had shells and animal replicas, and an exploration area where the children went into the creek to look for aquatic insects, crayfish, minnows and other creatures.

Grady Hannah ran the program with volunteer naturalists Bill Schieman and Brian Able, preschool instructor Tracy Klepacz and a group of National Honor Society students from Bellbrook High School.

“Bill brought real frogs and a bunch of tadpoles of varying stages,” Grady Hannah said. “They talked about what lives in a creek, then got to see them up close, and hold and touch a frog. It was so much fun.”

The park district submitted a large packet to the association full of event photos and details, plus an explanation of the program’s goals and challenges.

“This is our first OPRA award, so that’s why it was really exciting,” Grady Hannah said. “I wanted to get some recognition for the park district, because we are trying to serve the community as best we can.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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