Deer Haven Park

4183 Liberty Road, Delaware, OH 43015

ALERT: The wildlife blind is closed due to wind damage. A reopen date has not been established.

Deer Haven Park

Amenities

Park Size

122 Acres

Hours of Operation

Discover Your Park

Come visit the birds of prey at the aviary, thanks to our partnership with Ohio Nature Education (ONE). These birds are permanently injured and perching bird species will be on display on a rotating basis. This aviary allows visitors to have a unique opportunity to see the birds of prey up close. These injured birds cannot survive in the wild on their own and will serve as an incredible educational opportunity for visitors. The aviary is available during normal park hours.

Nature Center Hours: Noon – 5 p.m., Daily

Deer Haven Park is home to the Amy Clark-Bader Bird Sanctuary, and the trails, bird feeders and nesting boxes attract many resident and migrating birds. The tree swallow grid in the prairie areas attract these territorial birds, and the viewing windows in the visitor center allow park patrons to enjoy watching birds from the indoors.

Forest, forest edge, pond, meadow and wetland habitats make up this park in Liberty Township, which is Preservation Parks’ primary hub for nature programs and camps. Trails skirt the meadows and wind through mature woods, offering a variety of vistas to visitors.

The park also includes a pollinator garden, providing information to the public about how both humans and wildlife depend on pollination. An insect hotel provides locations for beneficial insects to nest, and a natural play area is located near the Visitor Center, affording new ways for children to play in nature.

Deer Haven Park is adjacent to Liberty Township’s Havener Park. The two parks share a main access driveway and walking trails are connected, providing about 3 miles of trails between the two parks. Pets are not allowed on the Deer Haven trails, but access is provided from the Deer Haven parking lot to the trails in adjacent Havener Park, which do allow pets.

The Deer Haven property was donated to Preservation Parks in 2006 by Phyllis A. Havener and her family, and John W. Bader Jr. donated funds to the Park District to develop the Bird Sanctuary in his wife’s honor. The park was opened to the public in 2008, and The Visitor Center opened in 2009.

The Visitor Center can be rented for business meetings. It includes a classroom, kitchenette, nature library and restrooms; scroll down for rental information.

For a list of flora and fauna found in 24 hours, during a 2018 Deer Haven Bioblitz, click HERE

Deer Haven Park History

Trail Information

Tree Swallow Trail (Gravel Trail)

Approximate walking time: 20 minutes; little elevation changes
Pets are NOT allowed on this trail.
Meets guidelines for outdoor accessibility.

NOTE: This Trail connects to a trail in adjacent Havener Park
After traversing forest edge and field habitats, this 0.6-mile trail crosses a wetland area. Visitors are likely to see bluebirds, tree swallows in season, goldfinches, red tailed hawks, cottontails and white tailed deer.

Bent Tree Ridge Trail/Creek Crossing (Gravel Trail)

Approximate walking time: 30 minutes; moderate elevation changes
Pets are NOT allowed on this trail.

This 0.5-mile trail overlooks two ravines and streams as it traverses mature woods. A wildlife blind allows visitors to watch ducks and other water fowl on a pond. Look for beech, maple, honey locust and red cedar trees. As you walk, you might see thrushes, woodpeckers and blue jays, and if you are alert, you might catch glimpses of barred owls in the evening. Two staircases lead to the bottom of the ravine, and a natural stone creek crossing connect this trail with the Tree Swallow Trail.

Grass Trail

Approximate walking time: 10 minutes; Little elevation change
Pets are NOT allowed on this trail.

NOTE: This Trail connects to a trail in adjacent Havener Park
This mown 0.4-mile path skirts a wetland and circles through prairie grasses and flowers. Butterflies, crickets and grasshoppers greet park visitors along this sunny trail.