Support the Park District
There are a number of ways to support Medina County Park District, from volunteering your time and talents to offering financial contributions and gifts of land.
Endowment Fund
Each year, Friends of Medina County Parks purchases supplies, materials and more to support programs and events. The nonprofit group has also helped fund land acquisition and the purchase of a 15-passenger van. Contributions to the endowment, which are tax deductible, give Friends the flexibility to underwrite a number of park district initiatives. Since only the earnings from the fund are used, your support goes on forever. You may support the endowment by check, made payable to Friends of Medina County Parks, mailed to: Friends Endowment Fund, 6364 Deerview Lane, Medina, OH 44256.
NEW! To make an online contribution through PayPal/credit or debit card, click on the yellow donate button.
Tree of Life Program
The Tree of Life program is an opportunity to establish a living memorial in memory, appreciation, honor or celebration of an individual or organization that has touched your life in a special way. Sponsors may have a tree planted in one of three sites identified for reforestation in support of the park district’s mission of natural habitat restoration.
For a tax-deductible donation of $500, payable to Friends of Medina County Parks, Inc., a sponsor may have an oak, maple or evergreen tree (at least 2-inch caliper) planted in one of the park-district-designated groves of his or her choice. The specific variety of oak, maple or evergreen will be determined by staff based on location, soil conditions, and other factors. Individual trees will not be identified by plaques, signs, GPS coordinates, or other means. Sponsors and those honored by the tree plantings are recognized in the park district’s public newsletter, The Leaflet.
Tree of Life donations are accepted in any amount, starting at $10. Those funds are used to supplement plantings in the sponsor groves or to purchase trees to be planted in other locations identified by park staff.
Click HERE for the Tree of Life donation form.
Bench Program
The bench program is currently suspended. Staff is taking an inventory of benches and re-evaluating the program.
Connecting Children & Nature Grant
Annually, Friends of Medina County Parks reimburse Medina County schools up to $150 per bus for field-trip transportation to Oenslager Nature Center, where students can attend nature education programs aligned with Ohio science curriculum standards. Grants total $5,000 or more per year! Contributions to this fund are tax deductible and can be made online or by check, made payable to Friends of Medina County Parks, mailed to: Connecting Children & Nature Grant, 6364 Deerview Lane, Medina, OH 44256.
Gifts of Land
Preservation and the protection of natural resources are at the heart of the park district’s mission. Several popular areas – including Alderfer-Chatfield Wildlife Sanctuary (home of Oenslager Nature Center), Allardale, Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park, and Schleman Nature Preserve, to name a few – exist because of the generosity of landowners.
If you or your family would consider a donation of resource-rich land, property adjacent to existing county parkland, or a sizeable parcel that would make a great public park, please contact Director Nathan D. Eppink at 330-722-9364, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
