By Erika Buri

I may have been jumping the gun a little, or been overly optimistic in March, when I said spring is in the air. Because it decidedly hasn’t been. At least not consistently. But some glimpses of it are getting us through these cold and windy days in between. On those radiant days, it’s been wonderful to see everyone using the parks … some for the first time, even!

As April rolls through, we continue to work on several projects. Construction on Fossil Park is ongoing. Unfortunately, it means our usual spring time opening will be delayed. For how long, we’re not sure. We hope to get running by Memorial Day weekend. Keep an eye on our Facebook and webpages for updates.

Our seasonal staff team is growing! If you, or someone you know, is looking for a summer job, we have several openings. Visit olanderpark.com/careers for current position descriptions.

Excitement is building for the 30th annual Kids Trout Derby on April 30!

We’ve been unable to run this event for the past two years, so this is a great anniversary for us! The event is open to kids up to 15 years of age. Registration is from 8 am to noon and the derby wraps up at 1 pm. T-shirts and door prizes for registrants will be available on a first come/first serve basis.

ODNR is stocking the lake with fish ahead of the event. We’re excited to have Jann’s Netcraft as our presenting sponsor again this year. Toledo Lucas County Library, and Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful will be joining us to add some activities to the event. We also expect to have several food trucks at the park. Bait and tackle will be available on site, but you will need to bring your own pole.

We’re looking forward to getting rolling on programs and events for the summer. We also wouldn’t mind some consistently warm weather. Regardless of the meteorological status, we are here for you. Come walk, bike, or just sit and relax at any of our parks!