Creek Bend Farm Park Nature Center

The Robert and Francis Roush Family’s donation, along with an Ohio grant, made this new Park possible. The property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was the home of Fran Roush and Bob Roush, former Sandusky County Commissioner.

Based on the 2004 Master Plan, also completed by The Collaborative, the Sandusky County Park District is converting the 187-acre Roush Family farm into a 1930s - 1950s era farm park with existing fields, Muddy Creek corridor, and numerous farm buildings. Initiatives of this project include:

• A new Nature Center including a gift shop, library, Window on Wildlife room, indoor and outdoor children’s play areas, administrative and naturalist offices, naturalist operations center, and a multi-purpose room with seating for 150. The facility has a geothermal HVAC system and a wind turbine to offset the electrical needs.
• Wayfinding and signage
• Sustainability / environmental responsibility, in terms of both new construction and natural areas such as allowing the stream to return to its original course;
• Restoration / preservation initiatives for existing house and barns;
• Converting a portion of the fields from modern agriculture to historic agriculture; while the remainder will continue to be farmed with modern equipment;
• Improvements to canoe launch; and stream bank restoration; and
• Several walking trails, including natural grass and concrete paths.