This site was originally surface mined in 1929 for limestone to make cement by Southwestern Portland Cement Company and Southdown Inc., before being sold to the Oakes family in the 1990’s. The family donated the land to the City of Fairborn in 2003. Oakes Quarry Park is the sec-ond largest park in Fairborn. The park includes foot trails and horseback trails that cross ancient limestone fossils exposed by the mining activity that formed the quarry. Conservation work here is developing prairies and wetlands once common in the area and the northern edge is nice woodland. Clean Ohio Conservation Fund assisted with the development of the park including invasive spe-cies removal and reforestation of 8,000 trees.

Trail length: 2 mile perimeter trail, 1 mile horse trail

Trail difficulty: Easy to moderate, mostly hard surface and mulch

What to see: The hiking trail takes you back in time 440 million years, when all of this was a coral reef in a shallow sea. Researchers from the Ohio State University say these Silurian Age crinoid fossils are the best in the U.S. and represent an exceptional site worldwide. More recently, glaciers left grooves, slides and polishings in the rock before the last ice age ended 14,000 years ago. Look for woodland and grassland birds along with white-tailed deer, cottontail, red fox, coyote, raccoon and red-tailed hawk.

Amenities: 190 acres with parking, hiking & horseback trails, fishing, portable restrooms. Fish-ing is allowed without a license.

Wetland fact: Oakes Quarry Park is in the northern-most part of the Beaver Creek Wetlands watershed and drains to the Little Miami River. The nearby Wenrick Wetlands to the north in Medway, Clark County drain to the Mad River. Wetlands like Oakes Quarry create green space that improves property values while being part of a long corridor of wildlife habitat.

Website: www.ci.fairborn.oh.us

Ownership: City of Fairborn. Operated by Parks and Recreation Division.

Crinoid Fossils Red-tailed HawkNew England Aster

Oakes Quarry Park

Oakes Quarry ParkCemex ReserveFairborn CommunityParkFairborn MarshKoogler Wetland/Prairie ReserveBeaver CreekWildlife AreaSiebenthaler FenBeaver CreekWetland NaturePreservePhillips ParkRotary ParkCreekside Reserve

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Dayton-Xenia Rd

N. F

airf

ield

Rd

Dayton

Xenia

Beavercreek

Fact

ory

Rd

GarlandRd

235

675S.

Map

le A

ve

Dayton YellowSprings Rd

New GermanyTrebein Rd

Treb

ein

Rd

Fairground Rd

Little Miami River

Little Beaver

Fairborn

Bea

ver C

reek

1

2

3

4

5 6

7

8

Bea

ver V

alle

y Rd

North

Bike Paths

35

11

9

Creek10

Enjoy nature year-round in all these Beaver Creek Wetland locations

Oakes Quarry Park This former limestone quarry features 440 million year old fossil beds. 2 mile perimeter trail plus horseback trail. Parking and portable restrooms.

Cemex Reserve Restored 165 wetland acres with marsh, wet forest, wet prairie and a small fen. The 1.2 mile trail may be muddy after rain. Parking.

Fairborn Community Park An extensive recreation complex with sports fields and courts, picnic areas, and pool. Natural areas include restored prairies, forest, other wetlands. 2 mile paved trails, more unpaved. Parking and restrooms.

Fairborn Marsh The largest marsh in the wetland corridor at-tracts ducks and shore birds. 52 acres with woods, prairie, and fen. 1 mile loop trail and observation deck. Parking.

Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve 47 acres of upland prairie, wet prai-rie and swamp. 1.5+ miles of trails and boardwalk. Parking.

Beaver Creek Wildlife Area Simple grassy trails lead 0.75 miles through wet and upland prairies, fen, marsh and swamp. Hunting allowed in season. Parking.

Siebenthaler Fen The crown jewel of the wetlands. A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk leads 1 mile past wet woods, fen and meadow to a kiosk and observation deck. Parking.

Beaver Creek Wetland Nature Preserve Phillips Park Rotary Park1.25 mile loop trail plus shorter spurs through floodplain wetlands. Sites include sports fields, picnic ar-eas, fishing pond, observation deck, portable restrooms, parking.

Creekside Reserve Features a small fen, man-made wetlands, upland prairie and forest along the restored stream. 3.5 miles of trails parallel bike path. Parking and restrooms at both ends.

Why Wetlands Matter

Wetlands purify water, prevent flooding and pro-vide greenspace for wildlife and recreation. Yet Ohio has lost over 90% of its wetlands.

What began as a handful of volunteers around a kitchen table has grown into a 12-mile cor-ridor of 1800+ protected acres along the Beaver Creek and Little Beaver Creek. Since 1988 we’ve worked to:

• Ensure natural flood control.

• Protect soils, plants and microbes that filter water and remove or destroy many pollutants. � � � � � � � � � �

• Protect a primary source of drinking water.

• Restore habitat for diverse plants and animal species, including many that are endangered.

• Provide unique nature areas offering recreation and fitness opportunities.

• Reserve green space that improves property values.

• Provide opportunities for education and research.

Learn More OnlineFor maps, brochures, upcoming events, ways to volun-teer and more information visit us online. www.beavercreekwetlands.org

Join Us As MembersProtect your environment, meet interesting peo-ple and learn more about the world around you. Receive our newsletter, e-mail alerts and attend special events. BCWA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) land trust. Donations are tax-deductible.

Photo credits: Richard Swigart, Jim Amon, Deborrah Adams, Pete Bales, Jen Gruner, Kate Hagenbuch, Mark Martel ©2012 BCWA

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11