January 2023

It's cold outside, but things are still happening at Clermont County! Check out this this issue of In the Parks for upcoming events, construction updates, and tips for spending more time outside in the winter!

Maple Season

In just a couple of months, maple season will be upon us! Toward the end of the winter, when temperatures drop below freezing overnight and rise to at least 40˚ during the day, tree sap starts flowing from the roots to the tops of the tree. This is part of trees’ process of preparing for spring blooms- the energy contained in the sap helps buds begin forming and growing.

Tree sap is a sugary-water solution that, when boiled down, becomes the delicious syrup that we enjoy every year. It’s a long process from tree to bottle, though! Every tree needs to be freshly tapped each year, and the sap must be collected daily to avoid waste. It must then be evaporated down to concentrate the sugar within into syrup! In March, you can come taste the products of our maple trees at our Pancakes in the Park event! For more information, click here.

Winter Solstice Celebration

It was a festive, fun and chilly celebration at Sycamore Park for our new annual holiday event. The Winter Solstice marks what some have celebrated for centuries as the “rebirth of the sun”, when the days become incrementally longer each day, and the sun re-emerges for longer periods of time. Many view this day, when the sun travels the shortest path across the sky, as one of renewal and restoration. It also marks the official beginning of winter. We sure saw winter arrive in full force in days following the solstice!

At the event, visitors enjoyed hot dogs and s’mores, beer from High Grain Brewery and sweets and hot drinks from Eliza Jane’s Bake Shop. They made their own candles, decorated cookies, made holiday swag, learned what happens in the sky during the solstice and enjoyed finding their way through our labyrinth. There was also a magical luminary walk, with a photo stop at one of our huge Sycamore trees and a historical presentation, fire and drinks with Grassy Run Historical Society along the trail. Thanks to all the staff, our amazing park volunteers and community partners from Grassy Run Historical Society, the Kiwanis Club of East Fork Region, Buzzing Enthusiasts 4-H, and the East Fork Full Moon Healing and Family Drum Circle. The event wouldn’t be possible without the teamwork and talents of everyone involved. Be sure to hold the date for our next event – Pancakes in the Park on March 4 at Pattison Lodge!

Plan a Group Volunteer Project for 2023

Are you interested in bringing your school, corporate or community group to give back at Clermont County Park in 2023? Projects  include tree plantings, invasive removals, trail work or light construction projects – such as bridge, bench or picnic table upgrades. Group service projects are a great way to bond while making a difference!

Ten Mile Creek Preserve Update 

Trails are in place and the former parking lot has been removed at the Ten-Mile Preserve. Construction continues with a newly paved parking lot and a flat rock channel that serves as a pond overflow into Ten-Mile Creek. Clean up work along the trail is still needed, but if the weather cooperates, they will be ready to help you get those New Year's Resolutions off on the right foot!