Nature reserve with trails in Marion, Ohio

John and Marion Becker Cedar Falls Preserve is a stunning park located at 56 Cedar Mills Road in Blue Creek, Ohio, United States. Visitors can explore rare northern white cedar trees, a variety of wildflowers, dramatic cliffs, huge boulders, and the beautiful Cedar Falls. The Helen C. Black Trail, opened in summer 2020, offers a unique opportunity to discover this special area of The Edge of Appalachia Preserve System. Cedar Falls is a 15-foot cascade over limestone ledges, best viewed in spring or after a heavy rain. Below the falls, Cedar Run has carved a deep gorge with cliffs up to 70 feet high. The boulder field along the trail consists of massive slump blocks of Peebles dolomite, providing a rugged yet fragile environment for lush wildflowers to thrive.

Pleasant Township Park, located in Marion, Ohio, United States, was once farmland owned by the Seiter Family since the late 1800s. The township purchased a 27-acre parcel of this land in 1999, with 19 acres designated for the park and the rest for future development. With the help of a NatureWorks grant from ODNR, Phase 1 of park development began in 2004, including an entrance drive, parking lot, trees, shelter house, and trails. In 2004, an additional 20 acres of Seiter farmland was purchased, with a wetland and prairie complex and a windmill installed. Funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission Clean Ohio Conservation Fund helped with this project. In 2006, a third parcel of 12 acres was purchased, with funding from ODNR NatureWorks and Land and Water Conservation Fund. Phase 3 involved converting part of this parcel into grassland habitat. The park now offers approximately 60 acres of preserved green space for the enjoyment of current and future generations.