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Jesse Rothacher

Park Director

125 East High Ave.
New Philadelphia, OH 44663

Phone: 330-365-3278
Fax: 330-602-7483
parkdept@co.tuscarawas.oh.us

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The Towpath Trail Extension 1 “Kimble Trail” project route along the “high” trail (parallel to Camp Tuscazoar) is closed during construction through November 2024. This includes evenings and weekends! Last Updated: 2024-08-30

News & Events

News and events for the Tuscarawas County Park Department (TuscParks).

Schedule of Events for 2024-25

The following is a list of our Schedule of Events for 2024-25. Check this page or our Facebook page for updates. Events are subject to change.  Download our 2024 Calendar of Events here.

Schedule of Events for 2024

September

  • 9/4 – Fall Walkabout, Fort Laurens, 10AM-12PM start at Ft. Laurens picnic shelter.  Click here to register.
  • 9/16 through 9/22 – Meet TuscParks staff at the Tuscarawas County Fair

October

  • 10/5 – Fall Fest, 12-5pm at the Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive).
  • 10/8 – Fall Walkabout, Norma Johnson Center, 10AM-12PM, start at yellow pole barn.  Click here to register
  • 10/9 – Homeschool Wednesday, start at Norma Johnson Center Conservation Drive kiosk, 9-11AM.
  • 10/20 – Canal Tavern 5k Run & Walk, 1-3pm at Canal Lands Park.  Click here to register. Mail-in registration from here.

November

  • 11/4 – Fall Walkabout, Canal Lands Park, 10AM-12PM, start at picnic shelter.  Click here to register.
  • 11/13 – Homeschool Wednesday, Canal Lands Park, 9-11AM.
  • 11/16 – Luminary Aqueduct, 4:30-8PM, McDonnell Trailhead

December

  • 12/7 – Luminary Walk, 5-7pm at the Norma Johnson Center (Yellow Barn)
  • 12/11 – Homeschool Wednesday, Norma Johnson Center, 9-11AM

Events for 2025

January

  • 1/10 – Homeschool Wednesday, Nature Topic, Place TBA, 9-11AM

February

  • 2/8 – Winter Hike, 10AM-12PM, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • 2/12 – Homeschool Wednesday, Norma Johnson Center, 9-11AM

March

  • 3/4 – Spring Walkabouts, NJC Conservation Drive, 10am-12pm
  • 3/12 – Homeschool Wednesday, CLP, 9-11AM
  • 3/22 – Dog Days of Spring, Canal Lands Park, 1-3PM

April

  • 4/1 – Homeschool Eagle Tour, Must register, 9AM-12PM
  • 4/5- Eagle Tour, Open to public, Must Register, 9AM- Noon
  • 4/9- Homeschool Wednesday, Norma Johnson Center, 9-11AM
  • 4/9 – Tick Workshop, New Philadelphia HS, 6pm-9pm
  • 4/26 – Canal Lands Park and Norma Johnson Center clean up and invasive species control, 9AM-12PM

May

  • 5/14- Homeschool Wednesday, Norma Johnson Center, 9-11AM
  • 5/10 – Birding with Kramer, 8-10AM, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • 5/17 – Birding with Kramer, 8-10AM, Canal Lands Park (Picnic Shelter)
  • 5/20 – Spring Walkabouts, Canal Lands Park, 10am-12pm
  • 5/26 – 5K Follow the Flock, Norma Johnson Center, 9:30AM.

June

  • 6/3 – Children’s Program Interacting with Nature, Pond Dipping 10AM-12PM
  • 6/5 – Children’s Program Crafting at the NJC, TBA 10AM-12PM
  • 6/10 – Children’s Program Interacting with Nature, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 6/12 – Children’s Program Crafting at the NJC, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 6/11 – Summer Walk About, 8:30-10:30am at the Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive Kiosk).  Register by clicking
  • 6/14 – Family Fishing Day, NJC Preservation Pond, 8:30 registration 9-11am fishing
  • 6/17 – Children’s Program Interacting with Nature, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 6/19 – Children’s Program Crafting at the NJC, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 6/24 – Children’s Program Interacting with Nature, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 6/26 – Children’s Program Crafting at the NJC, Tye Dye 10AM-12PM

July

  • 7/8 – Children’s Program Interacting with Nature, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 7/10 – Children’s Program Crafting at the NJC, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 7/10-7/20 – Butterfly Exhibit, Norma Johnson Center, M-F 10AM-4PM, Sunday 12PM-4PM
  • 7/10-7/20 – Pollinator Trail, Norma Johnson Center, start at Conservation kiosk, dawn to dusk
  • 7/15 – Children’s Program Interacting with Nature, Butterflies 10AM-12PM
  • 7/17 – Children’s Program Crafting at the NJC, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 7/22 – Children’s Program Interacting with Nature, TBA, 10AM-12PM
  • 7/23 – Summer Walk About, 8:30-10:30am at the Fort Laurens (picnic shelter near trailhead).  Register by clicking
  • 7/24 – Children’s Program Crafting at the NJC, Concrete Stones 10AM-12PM
  • 7/29 – Children’s Program Interacting with Nature, River Study 10AM-12PM
  • 7/31 – Children’s Program Crafting at the NJC, TBA, 10AM-12PM

August

  • 8/13 – Summer Walk About, 8:30-10:30am at the Canal Lands Park trailhead.  Register by clicking
  • 8/23 – Summer Dog Days at the Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive), 9AM-11AM

September

  • 9/10 – Fall Walkabout, Fort Laurens, 10AM-12PM start at Ft. Laurens picnic shelter.
  • September – Meet TuscParks staff at the Tuscarawas County Fair

October

  • 10/4 – Fall Fest, 12-5pm at the Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive).
  • 10/7 – Fall Walkabout, Norma Johnson Center, 10AM-12PM, start at yellow pole barn.
  • October – Homeschool Wednesday, start at Norma Johnson Center Conservation Drive kiosk, 9-11AM.
  • October – Canal Tavern 5k Run & Walk, 1-3pm at Canal Lands Park.

November

  • 11/6 – Fall Walkabout, Canal Lands Park, 10AM-12PM, start at picnic shelter.
  • November – Homeschool Wednesday, Canal Lands Park, 9-11AM.
  • 11/16 – Luminary Aqueduct, 4:30-8PM, McDonnell Trailhead

December

  • 12/6 – Luminary Walk, 5-7pm at the Norma Johnson Center (Yellow Barn)
  • December – Homeschool Wednesday, Norma Johnson Center, 9-11AM

* Note: We do not operate or manage Yellowbrick on 39. It is managed and owned by Phil and Brenda Gebhardt.

2025 Summer Children’s Program

Interacting with Nature, Tuesdays from 10am to Noon

Summer Children’s Interacting with Nature. An Eventbrite link will be provided in the future. There is no fee for the programs, but donations are accepted.

  • June 3, Pond Dipping, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • June 10, TBA, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • June 17, TBA, Norma Johnson Center (Preservation Pond, Yellow Pole Barn)
  • June 24, TBA, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • July 8, TBA, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • July 15, Butterflies, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive under Picnic Shelter)
  • July 22, TBA, Norma Johnson Center (Preservation Kiosk, Yellow Pole Barn)
  • July 29, River Study, Canal Lands Park, Meet at Picnic Shelter at CLP

Summer Crafting at the NJC, Thursdays from 10am to Noon

Summer Children’s Crafting programming.  An Eventbrite link will be provided in the future. There is no fee for the programs, but donations are accepted.

All Crafting programs take place at the Norma Johnson Center (Yellow Barn) unless stated.

  • June 5, TBA
  • June 12, TBA
  • June 19, TBA
  • June 26, Tye Dye
  • July 10, Butterfly Crafts, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive under Picnic Shelter)
  • July 17, TBA
  • July 24, Concrete Stones
  • July 31, TBA

2024-25 Homeschool Wednesday

This program is held on the second Wednesday of the month from October through May from 9-11am. An Eventbrite link will be provided in the future or email Marsha Freeland to register at parkedu@co.tuscarawas.oh.us

  • October 9, Fall Hike, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • November 13, Hike, Fort Laurens (Picnic Shelter)
  • December 11, Hike, Canal Lands Park (Picnic Shelter)
  • January 8, Classroom Nature Topic, TuscPark Office (4820 Old Rt 39 Dover OH)
  • February 12, Winter Hike, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • March 12, Hike, Canal Lands Park (Picnic Shelter)
  • April 9, Hike, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)
  • May 14, Spring Hike, Norma Johnson Center (Conservation Drive)

Special Eagle Tour to visit the eagle nests in Tuscarawas County will be offered to area homeschool families on April 1 from 9am-Noon.  Must call the office to register.

Download the 2024 TuscParks Event Calendar now.

Trail Closures

The Tuscarawas County Park Department may temporarily close specific areas within their jurisdiction to all visitors upon a determination that such action is necessary for reasons of weather, resource protection or management, permitted special events, avoidance of conflict among visitor activities, law enforcement, or other situations involving public health, safety, or welfare. Maintenance crews may also temporarily close specific areas for construction, reconstruction, or maintenance purposes.

Whenever the Tuscarawas County Park Department temporarily closes access to property within its jurisdiction, the public shall be notified by one or more of the following methods:

  • On the Park Department website or on our Facebook page
  • Signs or physical barriers
  • Mass communication in other media such as print, radio, or other electronic communication (newsletters, etc.)

Flooding

Due to close proximity to the Tuscarawas River, flooding is a concern along the Canal Lands Towpath Trail. If the Dover Dam water elevation levels are above 885 ft., access at the Canal Lands Park trailhead is likely flooded and the Towpath Trail south to SR-800 are underwater. Over 890 ft., the Towpath Trail is only dry and accessible ~1 mile past the Ft. Laurens trailhead, and flooded at the Canal Lands Park and SR-800.

The Army Corps of Engineers note that when the water levels are above 872 ft. at Dover Dam, kayakers should exit the Tuscarawas River at the Canal Lands Park boat launch ramp in Zoar.

Towpath Trail Extension 1 – “Kimble Trail”

Last Updated: 2024-04-01
The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, in partnership with the Tuscarawas County Commissioners and Tuscarawas County Park Department, is extending the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail 2 miles in Tuscarawas County south of Zoarville.
Extension Phase 1, or the “Kimble Trail” project, will span from Old Zoarville Road to the Dover Dam. A license agreement has been entered with the Kimble Company, owner of the property, to develop a public multi-use trail. The project site, known locally as the “high” trail area along the route of the old railroad parallel to Camp Tuscazoar, will be inaccessible from April 1 – September 30, 2024 due to construction of the trail.
Double B Excavating, LLC will be accessing the trail area from the access road off White Bridge on SR-416. The trail area and access road will be closed to public use until the project is complete. Please follow the directive signs that will be erected at the access points noting the trail closure.