Preservation Parks of Delaware County is the winner of the 2025 Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Governor’s Award for the Braille Trail at Hogback Ridge Park in Sunbury—the only known Braille Trail in central Ohio.
At 0.4 mile, the trail creates a safe, inclusive way for people of all abilities to connect with nature. Designed to engage touch, sound, and sight, the trail features a continuous guidance rope threaded through metal posts, a stable crushed gravel surface, and three interactive interpretive signs.
“Developing partnerships to improve the quality of life for all people is something that parks and recreation professionals excel at,” said OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward. “And this trail is a shining example of that work. Because of the foresight and dedication of the team at Preservation Parks, Central Ohio residents will have new opportunities to experience the beauty of nature—regardless of their ability to see. It really is a powerful project and a most deserving winner.”
Developed in partnership with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the American Council of the Blind of Ohio Sports & Recreation Committee, and the Sunbury Lions Club, the Braille Trail reflects collaboration, creativity, and resourcefulness. Supported by a $120,000 grant from the Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the project is both financially and environmentally sustainable.
In addition to the trail itself, the project also includes the park district’s first family-style accessible restroom with an adult changing station and a 3D tactile map at the trailhead. These achievements remove barriers and set a new standard for accessibility, allowing all visitors to listen to the forest, feel the bark of a shagbark hickory, and explore the tactile shape of Ohio’s state wildflower, the trillium.
The Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation, presented by Ohio Parks and Recreation Association was established in 2010 to recognize the one park and recreation project, program, or event that has had the most significant impact on quality of life in the preceding year. The winner was announced and the award was presented at the OPRA Annual Awards Dinner on February 3, 2026 at the Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky. Officials from thirteen statewide organizations formed the voting panel for the 2025 award.