MWCD August 2 CAD notes

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Atwood Lake Community Development Update - August 2

As a member of the MWCD Development Advisory Committee, I recently attended the committee’s quarterly meeting which was held at the newly renovated Atwood Lake Park Activity Center. General updates were provided by MWCD leadership which included:

MWCD’s New Activity Center

MWCD recently renovated the activity center at Atwood Lake Park. This facility is available for community events and can accommodate around 150 people. It's built with high-quality materials and has a unique playground outside, along with outdoor tables and chairs.

MWCD’s Financial Update

The MWCD is financially strong, showing improvements across the board. Detailed financial information is available through an infographic.(Please add link to infograph)

Human Resources

MWCD has many open positions, ranging from Rangers to roles within MWCD’s Recreation Department. They are reaching out to local schools to recruit, especially for Ranger positions (Recreational Law Enforcement) and offer scholarships through a partnership with the Buckeye Career Center. Safety is a top priority for MWCD.

MWCD’s Investments and Projects

• Parks Investments: Over $2 million invested in each park from oil and gas proceeds.
• Trails: 4,000 feet of trails have been paved, with more on the way.. MWCD is going through the process of developing a master plan for trails throughout the district. MWCD is also working with designers on an MWCD trails app. 
• New Headquarters: MWCD is planning a new HQ that will be located in the Tuscarawas County Technology Park in New Philadelphia, near  Buckeye Career Center and Kent State Tusc Campus.  The new facility will create gold standard processes and solutions for national adoption. Education and study are key to long-term success.
• Solar Projects: MWCD is working toward having 15 live solar projects that will be operating in 6 campgrounds. 
• Revenue: Five new wells have increased Utica Royalty Revenue since May 2024.
• Fishing Tournaments: The ODNR fishing tournament system now includes MWCD lakes. Since June, 35 tournaments have been scheduled through July 2025.
• Recreation Events: Upcoming events include Princess in the Park and Bounty on the Bridge at Atwood Lake.  There were over 30,000 attendees at the recent Alive Festival. Pleasant Hill will host an Iron Man event. Program and event information can be found at mwcd.org. 

MWCD Atwood Lake Specific Updates

MWCD has and continues to invest in opportunities around its lakes to provide a positive impact on quality of life.  To this end, MWCD has several development projects underway:

• Pines Addition: A community meeting will discuss a new Pines addition, featuring larger lots, with a lottery for allocation.  Meeting details to come
• Peninsula Feedback: MWCD is reviewing feedback on the Peninsula area and aims for long-term sustainability. More information to come after the review
• Recreational Opportunities Expansion: Plans include glamping campsites with extra services and Next Gen campsites for small trailers. Extensive research is being conducted to understand modern campers' needs, including accommodations for dogs.
• Tree Management: Atwood Pines Cottage Area is piloting a tree management program. Davey Tree is creating a plan for the mature 150-foot pines.
• Shoreline Work: Arcadia Drive shoreline work is complete, with final seeding to follow.

Tappan Lake will be featuring a new pump bike track that will include a tot track for beginners and a regular track for more experienced riders, with a surface of asphalt and some composite/wood features in banked turns.

MWCD – Foundation for Appalachian Ohio Partnership

MWCD recently solidified a partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) to advance conservation, environmental stewardship and the greater wellbeing of Appalachia Ohio. MWCD’s $5 million investment will support community projects, scholarships, fellowships, research and innovation in the areas of conservation and environmental stewardship.  

For more information, visit: Appalachian Ohio Environmental Stewardship

Feel free to share this update with your community! Any questions on MWCD’s programs and projects, please call MWCD at 330-343-6647.