MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP — Gary Smith was one of the busiest volunteers on Sunday at the Fleming Falls Park and Preserve.
The retired commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Mansfield was helping motorists find spots in various parking areas as the first “Fall at the Falls” began at 11 a.m.
And business was brisk as a steady flow of visitors entered the 184-acre park at 2294 Fleming Falls Road in Mifflin Township, just a one-minute drive from U.S. 42.
The public response — and amazing weather — put a smile on the face of Richland County Park District Executive Director Jordan Tackett just minutes into the five-hour event that showcased the bright colors of autumn.
“It’s perfect out here today. I mean, not a cloud in the sky,” he said. “It’s a little warmer than we expected … already having good turnout. We’re very happy with how things are going so far.”
The festival had a lot family friendly fun with a campfire, s’mores, hay rides, guided hikes, live music, pumpkin decorating, live music and face painting for the kids.
Food trucks were available and featured fall-themed treats like caramel corn and apple dumplings.
The Richland County Park District took ownership of the site formerly known as Camp Mowana in 2019. County voters approved the first park district tax levy in 2023, which generates about $1.6 million annually for the district.
Physical improvements to county parks, including Fleming Falls, have been made possible largely through those levy funds.
Tackett, a Richland County native and a Clear Fork High School graduate, said Sunday’s event was kind of an homage to the park’s history.
“Camp Moana, the folks here, they would have an annual Fall Fest, and this was kind of the spiritual successor of that, I would say,” Tackette said.
“There’s all these fall festivals going on around here and this is just one of the best properties around to see the fall colors. What better way to celebrate the fall colors and festivities than ‘Fall at the Falls’?” he said with a laugh.
(Below is a video taken during a wagon wide and also photos from Sunday’s “Fall at the Falls Festival” at the Fleming Falls Preserve, 2294 Fleming Falls Road in Mifflin Township. The story continues below the photos.)
Events like the one Sunday are key to embracing the public and showing residents what the park has to offer, according to Tackett.
“Critically important. There’s a lot of love for this property, a lot of people who have a long history here. There’s such a priority from the public to get this place back open, get out here and enjoy it,” he said.
He said former Camp Mowana staff members and participants were among those volunteering to assist on Sunday.
“This is one of the catalysts, I think, to getting those old Camp Mowana folks, all of our old supporters, back on the property. A lot of them are the volunteers that are helping with this today.
“So this is one of those stepping stones that’s going to help us to turn this into a functional park in the future,” Tackett said.
Near the end of the day, the executive director planned to offer remarks to those in attendance.
“We’re going to be talking a little bit about what’s been done on this property so far in recent years since we began receiving levy dollars in 2024.
“We got the new memorial deck that’s where the (Oneida Lodge) used to be. We’re making a lot of improvements to the hiking trails, which are currently open to the public.
“One of the big changes that’s coming that I think people ought to be excited about is that we’re going to be adding staff next year, so that we have a permanent presence on this property and we can start making more rapid developments here,” Tackett said.
“We’re going to have a park manager and park technician here permanently staffed at Fleming Falls. That’s going to help us to take better care of this great property, but also get it fully open more quickly,” he said.
