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6100 Ridge Road
Sharon Center, OH 44274
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GPS Coordinates for Wolf Creek Main Entrance
North: N 41 06' 31.872
West: W 081 44' 08.172
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On September 24, 1975, Mrs. Ruth Oenslager gave a gift to the people of Medina County. She donated her 103-acre farm in Sharon Township to the Medina County Park District.Mrs. Oenslager stipulated that the use of the property: "...shall stress outdoor education and encourage educational classes in its use of said land as a public park." The park district graciously accepted the gift and has been managing the property since 1975 - with the plan to use it as an outdoor education center.
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| Mrs. Oenslager did not wish to see the land developed during her lifetime and lived on the property until her death in 1992. |
| The park district felt that development of a wide variety of habitat areas on the property was important to the education process. Over the years, the land has been managed to include forests, meadows, deep-water ponds, pine plantations, and wetlands. |
| Sensing the need for a facility to offer environmental education programs, in 1994 the park district began the development of plans for an outdoor education facility. In 1995, a group of teachers from Medina County participated in the early planning, offering suggestions as to what would be needed on the property to enhance classroom curriculum. In 1996, the board of commissioners approved the establishment of a site advisory committee to make recommendations regarding the development of the property. |
| Myers Associates Architects of Medina was hired to work with the advisory committee to put together architectural plans for a facility. Based on facility needs and building code requirements, no existing buildings on the property could be used. Myers then began the design of a new building to be constructed. |
| On October 7, 2000, the Wolf Creek Environmental Center officially opened. The building includes a classroom for formal instruction, a lab room for detailed studies, rest rooms, offices, and a central gathering area for groups coming to the site. |
| The center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from Noon to 5 p.m. The site is closed on Mondays. Since Wolf Creek is a wildlife sanctuary, we are endeavoring to minimize disturbance to the natural communities. For that reason, pets, fishing, and picnicking are not permitted. |
