The Hamilton County Park District is well known for its golf courses, fishing lakes, playgrounds and picnic areas. However, more than 80% of parkland is preserved for natural habitat, such as prairie and wetlands, and wildlife. Providing a variety of habitat is the most successful way to encourage wildlife to thrive. The Hamilton County Park District's Stewardship Department is charged with this goal.

What is Stewardship?

Most park visitors are familiar with the various facilities and activities the Hamilton County Park District offers such as our campgrounds, athletic fields, hike/bike trails, fishing lakes, golf courses and picnic areas. Many are also familiar with our reservable lodges, our naturalist programs and nature walks. But did you know that only a few visitors actually experience the 80 percent of our park lands set aside as wild and natural areas?

Many park visitors assume scenes like the one below occur naturally if left unattended, but that is not the case. Although natural areas, it doesn't always happen naturally.

Of the more than 16,000 acres now comprising the Hamilton County Park District, 13,000 acres are retained as natural areas. Since the year 2000, we have acquired over four square miles of property - much of it heavily impacted by invasive species. It is wonderful to protect more land, but it requires staff and resources to manage it. That is the responsiblity of the Stewardship Department.

Follow our Stewardship Notes Blog to learn more about Stewardship.

Stewardship Notes Archive August 2010 - August 2011

Research

The Stewardship Department has funds available for the 27th consecutive year for contractual research projects conducted in its parks. Written proposals can by submitted by January 30, 2012. For specific questions prior to submitting your written proposals, please contact James Mundy at jmundy@greatparks.org or 513-728-3551 ext. 275, or Bob Mason at bmason@greatparks.org or 513-728-3551 ext. 226.

Download the 2013 Contractual Research Guidlines