LIMA — If you wish to go walkin’ in a winter wonderland, Heritage Park may be just the ticket Saturday.
The Winter Walk begins strolling at 9 a.m. and lasts about an hour to 90 minutes, stated Dan Hodges, a naturalist for the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District on Ada Road.
The venue is located at 2092 Reed Road — a stone’s throw from the Apollo Career Center — in Lima. The Lippincott Bird Sanctuary includes a “moderate” trail that extends approximately 3/4 of a mile, according to the park district’s website.
There may be no better time for a seasonal stroll, particularly to avoid cabin fever and feeling confined indoors.
“The purpose of most of our hikes is to get people outside,” Hodges stated via email. Although Johnny Appleseed staff strive for environmental education, he explained, the walk is “really about the experience of nature.”
Saturday morning’s Winter Walk — which will be guided by a naturalist — isn’t an annual affair, though the park does offer hikes every December.
Generally, participants hike within one group. “Should the number of registrants exceed a manageable amount, we may add another hike leader, but normally don’t have to do that,” Hodges explained.
It would behoove trekkers who assume Winter Walk will be just another walk in the park to monitor what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.
“We always encourage people to dress for the weather and ground conditions,” said Hodges. “We will likely take the dirt trail, which has the potential to be muddy.”
Even so, he hopes the possibility of inclement weather and a turbid trail won’t be a deterrent.
“Sometimes, we need a little extra motivation to get outside,” Hodges said. “We’re all here to enjoy nature.”
Registration is recommended for the event, which is free. For additional information, go online to www.jampd.com or call the JAMPD at 419-221-1232.
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