Friends of Pleasant Township Park

08/16/2026

What do you think of Pleasant Township Park? Complete the survey to give your input to the Trustees.

07/07/2026

❗️🦇 WE NEED YOUR HELP ❗️🦇

🦇 The Division of Wildlife is asking for the public's help in reporting injured bats or bat mortalities in Ohio. In recent years, they have seen what appears to be a significant increase in bat pup deaths, and researchers are working to determine if there is a common cause or contributing factor.

🦇 If you find multiple deceased bats, please consider reporting it to the Ohio Division of Wildlife to assist with their ongoing research efforts. To report, please contact 1-800-WILDLIFE or email [email protected]

From TLC Wildlife Management :

🦇 If you've recently found a bat inside your home, discovered one near an entry door or window, or are seeing bats flying around your roofline at dusk, it may be worth taking a closer look. Bats commonly utilize chimneys, wall voids, attics, soffits, ridge vents, and other areas of homes and buildings as roosting sites and nursery colonies.

🦇 Many homeowners assume a single bat indoors is an isolated incident, but in some cases it can be the first indication of a colony living within the structure 🫣
Our team specializes in non-lethal bat inspections, evictions, and exclusion work designed to safely remove bats from homes while protecting Ohio's native bat populations. If you're unsure whether bats may be using your home, an inspection can provide answers, identify potential entry points, and help you avoid larger issues down the road.

06/30/2026

There are at least two community firework displays for families and communities to enjoy - Marion County Fairgrounds at 10pm on July 4th and at dusk July 5th at Prospect Park. Community displays are predictable and give animal owners notice to do the best they can to prepare and protect their animals. Please stay safe and enjoy the celebration of our Nation's Independence at a community event.
The unexpected booms and flashes of backyard displays can trigger intense "fight or flight" animal instincts and can lead to a dangerous situation for the animal and their owners. The video below demonstrates how some horses respond. With 70% of the land in Pleasant Twp in agriculture, there are many farms with large farm animals and horses that are under heat stress now, and fireworks over the next several days will be an added stress. Please be respectful of our wildlife and your neighbors with large and small pets who will be doing their best to prepare and protect their animals.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17byiA3Gk6/

05/02/2026

Support Our Community on May 5th

Pleasant Township Park is a wonderful and well-used 60+ acres of green space—a place where our community gathers, plays, and enjoys the outdoors. The park neighbor is the Pleasant Township Fire Department that works diligently to keep our community safe.

A YES vote on May 5th will ensure the fire department remains fully staffed and properly equipped, ready to respond when it matters most.

Your vote helps protect not only our park, but the people who make Pleasant Township such a great place to live.

Vote YES on May 5th—and continue investing in the strength and safety of our community.

04/19/2026

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Holy rookery… that’s a LOT of herons! 😮🪶

A huge thank you to Jennifer Conroy for capturing this incredible scene right here in Marion County what an amazing look into the lives of the Great Blue Heron!

What you’re seeing is called a rookery, a large nesting colony where herons gather high up in trees to raise their young. While Great Blue Herons are usually solitary hunters, they come together during nesting season for a big reason safety and survival. By nesting in groups, they have more eyes watching for predators like raccoons or eagles, giving their chicks a better chance of making it to adulthood. These rookeries are almost always located near wetlands, rivers, or ponds, so adults can easily fly out to catch fish and bring food back to their hungry young.

Each nest is a platform of sticks built high in the treetops, and many are reused and added onto year after year some becoming impressively large over time. A single rookery can hold dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of nests all clustered together. Both parents share the work of incubating eggs and feeding the chicks, making these treetop neighborhoods full of constant activity during the breeding season.

Seeing a rookery like this is a powerful reminder of how important healthy wetlands and protected spaces are for wildlife here in Marion County. Keep your eyes to the treetops you never know when you might spot one of these bustling heron communities!

04/10/2026

04/07/2026

2026 Marion SWCD Nature Day Camps

June 16th: Girl Scout Camp Crooked Lane, 6998 County Rd 40, Mount Gilead

June 23rd: Pleasant Township Park, 1144 Owens Rd W, Marion

Camps are on a first come first serve basis to the first 30 preregistered, prepaid campers.

Camps are open to ages 6-11