TuscParks relocates offices to historic Dover Township building

TuscParks has a new home in a historic building. The department’s offices have moved to the former Brandywine Grange building at 4820 Old State Route 39 NW outside of Dover.

Prior to being a grange hall from around the 1930s, the building once housed a schoolhouse. Then until the early 2000s, for a while, the property was used for the Tuscarawas County Soil and Water Conservation District, which managed a portion of the Norma Johnson Center.

The decision to move the TuscParks offices was multifaceted. One being that funds were available when the department received an American Rescue Plan Act grant for the upgrades.

Jesse Rothacher, park director, and Marsha Freeland, education/programming manager, were based at the Tuscarawas County Courthouse, although their maintenance staff and equipment were at the Norma Johnson Center.

“Even from just a simple property management safety standpoint, if a piece of equipment goes out, or someone gets stuck, you have to drive 15 minutes, it’s a lot,” Rothacher said.

Space is also at a premium in the courthouse annex building and another department needed to expand.

“Whenever the commissioners acquired this building from Soil and Water and the grant became available, it made sense,” Rothacher said.

The new office will provide closer interaction with the maintenance staff, and it will be easier to respond if extra help is needed.

Many upgrades were made to the building including moving restrooms from a basement area to the main floor. The main area of the building was totally remodeled. The space, which can hold up to 49 people, is available for rent for private events. It will also be used for nature programs, especially if the weather doesn’t cooperate with an outdoor event. There is ADA parking and accessible restrooms.

The office area is shared by Rothacher and Freeland, with two extra workspaces available that may be used by interns or other volunteers. It also offers extra storage space.

The Norma Johnson Center in Dover Township is the largest of the three major sites TuscParks maintains.

“We manage Canal Lands Park, which is home to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath trail in Tuscarawas County. That’s from Bolivar to Zoarville. Then we have an extension, through a license agreement, in cooperation with the Kimble Company, to come down their property on the former rail line to Dover Dam,” Rothacher said. “Then we have another property near Tuscarawas, the Trenton Heritage Park, which is off the Old State Dam Road.”

TuscParks does not oversee any city or village parks.

“We don't have any active recreation. It's all passive hiking, cycling and equestrian use,” Rothacher said of the main activities TuscParks provides daily.

TuscParks does offer a number of scheduled programs each month throughout the year including walkabouts, Birding with Kramer, family fishing day, an art show, luminary walk, crafting and interacting with nature programs for children, special events and more, including programs for homeschoolers.

Their most popular program each year is the Butterfly Exhibition, which will be held this year from July 9-19.

A special guest at the new office open house April 16 was 17-year-old photographer and Eagle Scout, Noah Strickler of Deersville. He knows the importance of having nature areas open to the public where he can take photos of his favorite subject – wildlife.

Some of Strickler’s photo images will be placed on large sound damping panels that will help with sound issues in the large community space and provide decorative nature photos to enjoy.

Strickler is an inspiration.

“I picked up my first camera at about 7 years old from my mom, but I used to go to the Newcomerstown Eagle's Nest when I met my mentor, Danny Carpenter,” Strickler said. “He mentored me, and then I upgraded my camera. I started doing professional photography about three to four years ago.”

Examples of Strickler’s work can be found on his Facebook page, Adventures Through the Lens.

In one project, TuscParks is involved in ongoing efforts to address wood rot on the Zoar Iron Bridge, and they are currently seeking donations to cover the cost of repairs and maintenance.

“But more importantly, what people can do to support TuscParks is just visit. It's not even about donations or money or volunteering. Just come out and hike, enjoy the property,” Rothacher said. “That's the one best thing that anyone can do whether you're two or whether you're 80 plus, get outside and breathe in some fresh air, look at the trees and take in some sun – with some sunscreen. The best thing that anybody can do for the parks is to be an active user of the parks and trails that we have."

For more information about TuscParks visit tuscparks.com.