Liberty Park

Long before Liberty Park was formed, humans in prehistory camped here, sipped from the clean, cold springs and hunted game. With European settlement, trees were cleared for farming, yet maples were spared for their sweet sap. Other large trees exist on rock ledges and in wetlands in the conservation area, where fens and bogs are "protected" by poison sumac and swamp rose. Metro Parks has designated this a Low Impact Area, meaning park improvements, such as trails, will be kept to a minimum, and mowing is limited. This protects the various species that live in the area's wetlands and vernal pools. Liberty Park harbors countless rare and endangered species, including Indiana bats, marsh wrens, ospreys and bald eagles. Other creatures seen here include beavers, long-tailed weasels, dragonflies, butterflies, red-backed salamanders, wood frogs and turtles. In July 2006, Audubon Ohio named Liberty Park an Important Bird Area.