On the heels of strong thunderstorms, heavy rain and a brief tornado warning overnight, cooler, drier air has moved across northeast Ohio. My wife and I thus decided on a hike and we headed for Dix Park in northern Portage County.
Though relatively small (104 acres), the Park is a mosaic of woods, meadows and wetlands, accessed by an old jeep road; three loop trails connect with this wide path and a fourth is under construction, destined to be a nature education trail for young children. Once again, the pleasant weather proved to be the highlight of our visit though we did encounter a fair variety of wildlife; most conspicuous were a noisy group of catbirds.
Set amidst agricultural fields which, though necessary, have little natural value while producing a host of negative impacts, Dix Park protects an island of vital wildness. Unfortunately, in our modern age, such islands keep getting smaller and farther apart.
