Pine Hill Lakes Park Loop Tour Version 2.0

Take a quick walk around the park and learn more about its history and wildlife.

Tour Information
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Pine Hill Lakes Park Loop Tour Version 2.0

Mason, Ohio 45040, United States

Created By: Miami University of Ohio

Tour Information

Pine Hill Lakes Park is the jewel of the city of Mason's park system. This walk will follow the paved Corwin Nixon Park Trail -- a walking/biking path around the lake with stops to share information on the park's history, wildlife and conservation. Note: If you have good mobile connectivity, it is recommended that you disable Text to Speech in Settings and use the PLAY AUDIO links for best sound quality.

This tour was created by Dianna Kenneally for a graduate course at Miami University with assistance from the Mason Parks Department in May 2018. References and Photo Credits for the tour are summarized in the document at the link below. https://docs.google.com/document/d/12GOVjd6-_L3Gtv9vQsdi1yYXcX0Ivk_u4bvTjvF323g/edit?usp=sharing

For more information about the park see Mason City Website. https://www.imaginemason.org/things-to-do/parks/pine-hill-lakes-park/

Acknowledgements: Thank you to Mr. Don Allen and Ms. Jennifer Heft from the City of Mason for their assistance in creating this tour.


Tour Map

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What You'll See on the Tour

PLAY AUDIO Pine Hill Lakes Park encompasses 84 acres of walking paths, woods and small lakes.  The park was originally a family farm that was turned into a private recreation area with fishing, picnicking, pony rides and swimming pool in ... Read more
PLAY AUDIO Just before the lake path is the only full service restroom facility in the park.  Behind the restroom is the entrance walkway to the park playground.  You will find this playground full of families on any sunny day. It has a s... Read more
PLAY AUDIO Year round you will be treated to the sight of ducks and geese on the main lake and maybe a Great Blue Heron..  No swimming, wading or boating is allowed on the lake but it is stocked for fishing with trout and catfish.  Fishin... Read more
PLAY AUDIO The familiar large brown, white and black birds found on and near the lake are Canada Geese.  They are a protected species under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.   At the beginning of the 20th Century they were hunted t... Read more
PLAY AUDIO The dock area down the hill toward the lake on your right was built to allow mobility limited patrons access to fishing.   It is also a nice place for parents with strollers to give their kids an up close view of the ducks swim... Read more
PLAY AUDIO As you make a slight bend to the left, you are entering a wooded area where you will often see small birds  perching on a branch or getting a drink in any little puddles in the path.  The  bright blue bird with white underside... Read more
PLAY AUDIO If you look to the left of the path along the fence line  you may see some large woody shrubs that may have a white flower or red fruit depending on the season.  These are Amur Honeysuckle. While these plants are fast growing ... Read more
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PLAY AUDIO To your right is a large open area with tall grasses and a few trees.  The park maintains this open area by mowing it once or twice a year in order to create a meadow and prevent it from turning back into a forest (Don Allen, pe... Read more
PLAY AUDIO In the meadow, you will see nesting boxes built to attract the Eastern Bluebird. Bluebirds are of the thrush family with blue backs and wings with a reddish breast.  Bluebirds are native song birds who eat insects, seeds and b... Read more
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PLAY AUDIO The spiky brown cones in the meadow are the Common Teasel. The teasel was brought to North America by European colonists because the dried spiky flowers were was used to help card wool.  The dried flowers are very durable, last... Read more
PLAY AUDIO PLAY VIDEO One thing you may notice as you are looking into the naturally wooded areas of the park is a number of dead or dying Ash trees.  Unfortunately these trees have been attacked by the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetl... Read more
PLAY AUDIO As you turn to the right, you will cross a little concrete bridge.  This goes over one of the primary water sources for Pine Hill Lake.  The lake is fed primarily from rain water run off from the City of Mason Golf Center and n... Read more
PLAY AUDIO If you look carefully into the water flowing under the bridge, you may see tadpoles and other little fish.  If you are brave and turn over some of the rocks in the little creek you might be surprised to see a crayfish come scutt... Read more
PLAY AUDIO Along the trail you will see several Mutt Mitt stations to help you clean up pet waste.  The city welcomes well behaved dogs and cats on leashes but asks that you please clean up their waste (City of Mason, 2017b).  Pet waste ... Read more
PLAY AUDIO As you continue to your right, you will see the back side of the lake.  There are several benches in peaceful spots over-looking this part of the lake.  If you walk up quietly closer to the shore, you may be treated to the sigh... Read more
PLAY AUDIO As you approach the large picnic shelter, to your left is a smaller lake,  This little lake is popular with frogs.  In the evenings and at twilight in the spring and summer you will almost certainly hear a sound like a bass gui... Read more
PLAY AUDIO After the small lake, on your left you will see the Merten E. Natorp Arboretum.  Here there are many varieties of trees both native and ornamental donated to the park by businesses and citizens.  The trees are labeled with the... Read more
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Dam
PLAY AUDIO After the Arboretum you will be turning right to cross the land bridge at the end of the large lake.  You will see a large drain in the corner of the lake.  The lake drains into a small stream that winds down the hill to your l... Read more
PLAY AUDIO As you are crossing the land bridge, you will see a big slope downhill to your left.  This is an excellent place for kids to try rolling down the hillside or sledding in the winter.  At the bottom of the hill is a concrete pad ... Read more
PLAY AUDIO At the end of the dam you will be back at the parking lot.  Thank you for joining the Tour. If you are interested in more Mason area nature walks, there are two trails that start from this area.  At the left of the dam is a pav... Read more
The Mason Community Center is connected to the park's paths so that members can use locker rooms  while enjoying a walk/run through the parks and upon their return have showers, stretching areas and other amenities available to them.  I... Read more

 

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