Wesleyan MetroPark in Dayton is about to grow, with new amenities including bike trail connections

Daytonians of all ages cross the new $5,000 bridge over Wolf Creek that joins the two halves of Wesleyan MetroPark, and is part of the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail, after a dedication ceremony by Five Rivers MetroParks Tuesday afternon.

Credit: Photo By Jim Witmer

Credit: Photo By Jim Witmer

Daytonians of all ages cross the new $5,000 bridge over Wolf Creek that joins the two halves of Wesleyan MetroPark, and is part of the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail, after a dedication ceremony by Five Rivers MetroParks Tuesday afternon.
News
By Sarah Franks
Sept 19, 2018
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Fixed on one of the Great Miami’s most scenic waterways is Wesleyan MetroPark, a surprisingly natural escape within Dayton’s urban territory. It’s about to get a lot bigger.

Five Rivers MetroParks recently closed a land acquisition deal that secured the expansion of Wesleyan MetroPark by 45.8 acres. The added space includes ponds, new accesses to portions of Wolf Creek and opportunities to connect existing sections of the Wolf Creek bike trail.

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THE LAND

The land was purchased from Calvary Mission Church through a Clean Ohio conservation grant and also, a "significant" donation from the church.

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“Calvary Mission Church dreamed of this green space becoming a destination where the community could enjoy the outdoors,” said Eric Sauer, MetroParks planning manager. “By incorporating this space into an existing MetroPark, we can expand park amenities and connect trails, in addition to activating the space and making it accessible to the community, which is what the church envisioned.”

WHAT’S NEXT

The addition of the new green space will be handled with careful planning by the MetroParks, according to a MetroParks press release. Over the next several months, the land will be cleaned up and entrances will be selected to “ensure neighborhood pedestrians have access to the area.”

Until a site plan is completed, rangers will monitor the area, which will be considered a MetroParks’ conservation area. Designated conservation zones within the MetroParks are managed to create a habitat for plants and wildlife to take precedence.

Wesleyan MetroPark is located at 1441 Wesleyan Road, Dayton and is one of Five Rivers MetroParks' 18 "clean, safe parks."

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About the Author

Sarah Franks