Introduction

         As a current Park Commissioner for a mid-size City in Ohio, Founder and President of the Great Ohio Outback Wildernesses Regional Authority, Ron Brohm, believes that parks & parklands are at the core of conservation in the state of Ohio and Nationwide.

           Ohio park districts own and operate a majority of public lands for park use, but in reality these properties could also be considered preserves. All of these parks are nature areas and “property stakeholders” that actually serve as the building blocks for future conservation efforts. 

             Parks serve communities in many ways  including access to nature, recreational activities and exercise & health programs.          Parks most importantly, through, allow the public to use and apprecIate our great outdoors, thus instilling into them a greater appreciation for nature and wild areas. 

          After all, if the public cannot utilize and enjoy public properties then they are probably not going to be very enthused about protecting and preserving them. 

         We must responsibly use, develop and adjust our parks, outdoor places and wilderness areas in order to protect them, keep them, leverage and maintain them. 

         The public and taxpayers are really our biggest shareholder/owners and stewards of our lands. They are our greatest assets and partners.

       The Great Ohio Outback Wildernesses Regional Authority is dedicated to developing and sharing creative, engaging and fun programs for parks and outdoor organizations. We are also dedicated to creating and sharing creative marketing and promotional concepts to enhance outdoor experiences.

        In the end, making our parks more participative and  getting more people involved will bold well in developing public stewards and preserving our public lands today and in the future.