Taft Reserve. A Horse Park In Licking County, Ohio.

Taft Reserve is a park in the Licking County Park District. The trails are primarily for horses, but there are some sections only open to hiking.

Licking County, Ohio Park District's Taft Reserve Sign

Taft Reserve In Rural Licking County, Ohio near Newark.

I’d love to tell you more about Taft Reserve, but the specifics are constantly changing. Their website is lacking information and rules for all of the parks are constantly changing. This includes the times that they are open and the restrictions for horses depending on trail conditions. I think that all of this is due to lacking funds to support the parks, but who knows? There are phone numbers to call on their website.

I took my chances and found Taft Reserve open. It’s a nice trail for the exception of the horse droppings. For the most part, the trails are wide well-groomed tunnels through wooded areas. It appears to be a replanted area. I say this because of the strange types of trees arranged together. Some cherry trees trying to survive among oaks and maples, then a few evergreens. A few other types of trees have managed to grow, but for the most part there is a repeating pattern.

There was an abundant amount of birds and wildlife. Birdwatchers will be in heaven out here.

There are surrounding farms and from the looks I got, there suspicious of anyone venturing into the park. No greeting or anything, just a stare. Maybe I’m a shady looking character or something.