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Open House, Hike and Cook Out at AOA’s Genevieve Jones Preserve
June 10, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
FreeGet a sneak peek at AOA’s spectacular new Genevieve Jones Preserve along the Scioto River before it is opened for public access. This ~337-acre property, on the site of the former Cooks Creek Golf Club, is situated at the confluence of the Scioto River and Walnut Creek, protecting over 1.6 miles of riparian corridor. This site honors the legacy of Genevieve Jones – a 19th century Circleville ornithologist and initial author of what became the Jones Family’s monumental publication, Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio.
Genevieve Jones Preserve is a keystone component of AOA’s Scioto River Flyway Conservation Corridor Initiative which seeks to protect water quality and wildlife habitat along the Scioto River. AOA is in the process of converting the former golf course features into a nature preserve with new and enhanced wetlands to safeguard water quality. See link below to article with additional information on the Genevieve Jones Preserve project.
The 330-acre Preserve is supplemented by an additional 25 acres transferred to the Pickaway County Park District. The Park District will maintain their offices in the old clubhouse and manage a network of publicly accessible trails on the Preserve.
Learn about the Preserve and future plans for the site. The former golf cart paths will be open for public walking/hiking and nature observation during the open house. Visitors can hike to the top of the Circleville Esker, a prominent Pickaway County glacial feature, for a birds-eye view of the Scioto River and environs. Lucky hikers will see the resident bald eagles, great white egrets and/or herons, or at least view the bald eagle nests and heron rookeries along the Scioto River.
Time: We will open the gates for visitors at 8:00 a.m. and stay open until 3 p.m. for trail walking.
Cook Out: We will be serving hamburgers, bratwurst and accompaniments on the deck of the former clubhouse from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or until we run out of food. We will serve on a first come, first served basis with 250 guaranteed meals.
What to Bring: Snacks and/or drinks of your choice. Binoculars to view the many birds and wildlife. Insect repellant is recommended during tick season.
Location: The Google address for the Genevieve Jones Preserve is 16405 US-23, South Bloomfield. Look for AOA signs at the entry drive on the south side of the Village of South Bloomfield. Park in the Pickaway County Park District parking lot in front of the old clubhouse building.