The formal establishment of Rising Park occurred in 1914 when the Lancaster Park Board officially designated the area as a public park. Named in honor of William T. Rising, the park quickly became a beloved destination for outdoor recreation, community gatherings, and cultural events.
In 1931, Dr. Frank Warner of Columbus gave his new bride, Carmen, an unusual wedding present: ninety-four acres of old farmland in southern Fairfield County. Mrs. Warner named her estate Wahkeena – a Yakama Indian word meaning “most beautiful” – after a waterfall she had seen in Oregon.
The trail is identified by blue blazes, 2" wide by 6" high, on trees or poles. A single blaze marks the trail where the route is fairly straight or obvious, while a double blaze marks a turn with the upper blaze offset to indicate the new direction.
The Ancient Trail runs alongside Darby Creek and loops through fields and woods while passing a Fort Ancient mound. Some Ohio mounds were built during the Woodland period about 1000 BC by the Adena culture.
Located at 8000 Kingsley Drive, where the road dead-ends into a small parking lot. Seven trails run through the tall pinewoods and a rocky gorge. French Run Creek runs through the park.
6 min read
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