For most of us, the word “marsupial” brings to mind kangaroos and koalas—animals we might describe as cute, or even charismatic. But those adjectives probably are applied less often to our one local marsupial, the Virginia opossum, Dildelphis virginiana. With…
The National Recreation and Park Association’s February issue of Parks & Recreation magazine released its annual 30 Under 30 list honoring top young park and recreation professionals who serve as everyday champions in their communities. Centerville-Washington Park District employees Alyssa…
Shane was born in Mississippi. In 1977 his parents settled in Ohio and he moved to the Centerville area in 1995. At the time, his hobbies were computers, electronics and driving in time-speed-distance road rallies. Anything but exercise! Then Shane…
Sycamore trees are easy to spot on the landscape. Sycamores thrive in well-drained riparian (streamside) soils, and from the air they are conspicuous as large white sentinels marking the paths of creeks and rivers. On the ground, even in summer…
Southwest Ohio is home to seven species of woodpeckers. Six of those species—downy and hairy, red-bellied and red-headed, pileated and flicker—are year-round residents, and most of them are common in woods and neighborhoods and at feeders. But the seventh species,…
Eshita has grown up in three different countries! Her family moved to Centerville in 2008 and Eshita is now a junior at Centerville High School. She has been involved with the Centerville-Washington Park District for many summers, she and her…
Honeybees and Bumblebees Prepare for Winter Honeybees (introduced from Europe to North America in the early 17th century) and bumblebees (several species native to southwest Ohio, including common eastern bumblebees, golden northern bumblebees, two-spotted bumblebees, and others) have a lot…
Research shows that in the United States alone, more than 600 million pounds of candy are purchased each year for Halloween. The vast majority of candy wrappers end up in landfills due to the inability by most curbside recycling programs…
October is a transitional month. With the recent passing of the autumnal equinox, the sun now sits above the horizon for less than half the day. And as autumn marches on, temperatures drop. Together, these changes impose challenges for local…
The McEwen Road entrance to Centerville-Washington Park District’s Grant Park will be undergoing a transformation soon! Plans are underway to create an all-access trailhead and a paved multi-use path surrounding a 4-acre pollinator habitat. The improved park entrance will provide…