On the outskirts of Ostrander in Scioto Township, along Fontanelle Road, sat a piece of property just waiting to be transformed into a park for people of all ages to enjoy and for wildlife to thrive. With its woodlands, vernal pools, and meandering shaded stream corridor named Blues Creek—all it needed was for someone to recognize its potential as a future park.
Meanwhile, inspired by her love for nature and wanting to preserve and protect land in her adopted hometown, Marianne Gabel, became an anonymous donor for the purchase of the first piece of land designated as a park within the fledgling Preservation Parks District —98.5 acres purchased at auction in 1993 to become the future Blues Creek Park.
Gabel remained anonymous until 2024 when she agreed to allow her identity to be revealed for the Park District’s 50th anniversary celebration.
As Blues Creek Park began to take shape, agricultural fields were transformed into prairies, and the first playground and picnic area were built with funding through a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. Volunteer groups including the Olentangy and Delaware Rotary Clubs, Boy and Girl Scout groups, and the Ohio Wesleyan University Tree House Club helped with construction. In 1998, a pedestrian bridge over Blues Creek was constructed with funding provided by a NatureWorks grant, offering beautiful views of the creek and park.
In 2000, an additional 40 acres were purchased from William & Elizabeth Glenn, bringing Blues Creek Park to the 139 acres it is today. This expansion added more wooded riparian corridor along Blues Creek, and an additional field that would later become part of the core of the park.
Thanks to additional grant funding, this time from the Recreational Trail Program, the 1.1-mile Shagbark Loop gravel trail was constructed and Blues Creek Park was opened to the public in 2001, becoming the District’s first park.
Since its opening, a secondary parking area near the front entrance was added and the construction of the scenic Fox Run Loop and Meadowlark Trail were completed, bringing the park’s total trail length to 2.4 miles. In 2007, the vehicular bridge over Blues Creek was improved using funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation to reduce closures due to flooding.
The one-acre catch and release fishing pond constructed in 2010 provides exciting opportunities for anglers of all ages to catch mature bluegill, bass, and catfish from the easily accessible fishing platform. Winter adventure seekers can enjoy the thrilling sledding hill and for those not so thrill-seeking visitors, make the trek to the top of the hill anyway for the spectacular year-round views of the park. Over 20 acres of prairie habitat throughout the park, explode with color in the summer with blooming native prairie species providing nature lovers with spectacular scenery. Visitors will also find seasonal wetlands with a variety of plant and animal life, along with acres of reforested fields in various stages of succession.
The seemingly out of the way location of Blues Creek Park makes it a perfect recreation spot for those wishing to escape the crowds. Beginning with the Park District’s original purchase of 98.5 acres in 1993 to its current holdings of over 2,400 acres, Blues Creek Park serves as a reminder of how much the Park District has grown.
