Richland County Park District

Richland County Park District The Richland County Park District is dedicated to introducing and interpreting our region's natural heritage to the citizens of Richland County.

The RCPD manages multiple facilities including: Gorman Nature Center, The B&O Trail, Hemlock & Fleming Falls. Please Note: Hours of operation refer specifically to the Gorman Nature Center Visitor Center, which is also the headquarters of the Richland County Park District. Visitor Center days and hours of operation (open to the general public) are Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Our Tues

day Visitor Center hours (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) will extend seasonally (May-October) until 5:00 p.m., to accommodate our weekly Animal Feeding Day program. As always, the Gorman Nature Center property, trails and outside facilities are open from dawn to dusk, 365 days during the year. Outdoor restroom facilities are also available dawn to dusk throughout the year.

A Friendly Reminder: Please Leave Nature as You Found It 💚Over the past several months, we have been finding decorative ...
08/29/2026

A Friendly Reminder: Please Leave Nature as You Found It 💚

Over the past several months, we have been finding decorative birds, plastic ducks, and other objects clipped to trees and on the ground. While we understand that these may have been placed with good intentions, we wanted to share why it’s important to leave nature how you found it.

Recently, we’ve started finding some of these birds with what appear to be chew marks or peck marks, meaning wildlife may be interacting with them.

Objects that don’t naturally belong in the environment can confuse or stress wildlife, and animals may attempt to chew, peck at, or otherwise interact with them. This can potentially lead to injury or other harm. Items left outdoors can also eventually become litter and impact the natural spaces we all enjoy.

We love seeing people enjoy and connect with our trails, and we appreciate everyone’s help in keeping these spaces safe and natural for wildlife!

As a friendly reminder, under Ohio Revised Code Section 3767.32, littering is against the law. Violations may be subject to penalties of up to $500 in fines.

Stop by Gorman Nature Center on Saturdays at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM for a regularly scheduled keeper talk!Learn about the ...
08/27/2026

Stop by Gorman Nature Center on Saturdays at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM for a regularly scheduled keeper talk!

Learn about the natural history of some of Ohio’s native creatures from one of our naturalists. This is your opportunity to learn, get up close with an animal, and ask questions!

Animals will vary from week to week and could include a snake, turtle, frog, insect, or another fascinating native species!

We hope to see you there! 🐢

We love to see butterflies and moths in the warmer months! But, did you know that caterpillars, which are baby butterfli...
08/25/2026

We love to see butterflies and moths in the warmer months! But, did you know that caterpillars, which are baby butterflies and moths, need native plants? Tomorrow, we are going to take a walk through our native plant gardens to see if we can find any of the insects and other creatures that depend on those plants for their food.

Our weekly Parents & Kids Preschool Program will be held at the Gorman Nature Center on Wednesday, August 26th. We are back to having TWO IDENTICAL PROGRAMS at 9:00 and 10:00 AM throughout the summer months.

Please dress appropriately to hike and explore outdoors, including jackets and boots if needed. We will meet in the picnic pavilion, and we plan on being outside unless weather conditions are unsafe.

Don't forget to bring your nature-related items for show-and-tell!

08/25/2026

🦋ONE MINUTE FIELD GUIDE🦋

Meet our newly emerged Polyphemus Moth! We have one more cocoon that has yet to emerge at Gorman Nature Center for you to come and see!

🦋MONARCH VS. VICEROY🦋At first glance, Monarchs and Viceroys look nearly identical. However, there is an easy way to tell...
08/22/2026

🦋MONARCH VS. VICEROY🦋

At first glance, Monarchs and Viceroys look nearly identical. However, there is an easy way to tell them apart! When looking at a Viceroy, you will notice a thin black line running across its hind wings. When you look at a Monarch, that line is missing. There are also other differences, such as Viceroys being typically smaller than Monarchs, and they have different flight patterns. Monarchs tend to have a slower “flap flap glide” pattern, while Viceroys have quicker, more erratic wing beats.

Even though they look so similar as adults, as caterpillars, you can very easily tell them apart! Monarch caterpillars are boldly striped with yellow, black, and white, while the Viceroy is mostly brown and white (resembling bird droppings on leaves!) They also differ in their host plants, with Monarchs eating milkweed, and Viceroys eating mainly plants in the Willow family (such as willows, cottonwood, and poplar).

This similarity between Monarchs and Viceroys is called mimicry! For a long time, scientists thought Viceroys were mimicking Monarchs because Monarchs taste bad to predators. However, we now know that Viceroys are also unpalatable to predators. So, instead of one species copying the other, they may both benefit from looking similar because predators learn to avoid that pattern. Basically, the more butterflies that look “bad to eat,” the better it can be for both!

Next time you’re out looking for butterflies, take a closer look at those black and orange wings, you might just spot a Monarch or Viceroy!

Fungi come in so many different shapes and sizes. But what exactly are they? Are they plants or something else? Tomorrow...
08/18/2026

Fungi come in so many different shapes and sizes. But what exactly are they? Are they plants or something else? Tomorrow we will discover that there is a lot more to fungi than meets the eye. Come join us as we hunt for fungi and learn about how it is all around us, even when we can't see it!

Our weekly Parents & Kids Preschool Program will be held at the Gorman Nature Center on Wednesday, August 19th. We are back to having TWO IDENTICAL PROGRAMS at 9:00 and 10:00 AM throughout the summer months.

Please dress appropriately to hike and explore outdoors, including jackets and boots if needed. We will meet in the picnic pavilion, and we plan on being outside unless weather conditions are unsafe.

Don't forget to bring your nature-related items for show-and-tell!

UPDATE: THIS WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A FUTURE DATE DUE TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAKING THE PARKING LOT INACCESSIBLE! Sto...
08/17/2026

UPDATE: THIS WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A FUTURE DATE DUE TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAKING THE PARKING LOT INACCESSIBLE!

Stop by this Tuesday, August 18 at Hemlock Falls and help us remove invasive species. Every helping hand makes a difference!

Have you ever wondered how to tell a dragonfly from a damselfly? Join us as we take a closer look at these fascinating i...
08/11/2026

Have you ever wondered how to tell a dragonfly from a damselfly? Join us as we take a closer look at these fascinating insects and learn some simple ways to spot the difference between them!

Our weekly Parents & Kids Preschool Program will be held at the Gorman Nature Center on Wednesday, August 12th. We are back to having TWO IDENTICAL PROGRAMS at 9:00 and 10:00 AM throughout the summer months.

Please dress appropriately to hike and explore outdoors, including jackets and boots if needed. We will meet in the picnic pavilion, and we plan on being outside unless weather conditions are unsafe.

Don't forget to bring your nature-related items for show-and-tell!

Public Animal Feeding Day is cancelled this Tuesday, August 11th due to us being at the Richland County Fair! Come to th...
08/10/2026

Public Animal Feeding Day is cancelled this Tuesday, August 11th due to us being at the Richland County Fair! Come to the Nature Park at the Richland County Fair and see us at our booth!

Join us for a fun and educational Salamander Story Time at the Bellville Library on Tuesday, August 11th at 10:30 AM!Joi...
08/10/2026

Join us for a fun and educational Salamander Story Time at the Bellville Library on Tuesday, August 11th at 10:30 AM!
Join Miss Sarah from the Bellville Public Library, who will be leading story time with stories and songs. Miss Karen and Miss Sydney from Gorman Nature Center will also be bringing along a live salamander and snake for you to meet up close! Hope to see you there!

Address

The Richland County Park District/Gorman Nature Center 2295 Lexington Avenue
Mansfield, OH
44907

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 3pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

(419) 884-3764

Website

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