Anderson Park District introduces the APD GeoTrail (launched Fall 2015) offering a trail of caches throughout eight of our parks. This trail is an excellent way to get outside and visit all of our beautiful parks throughout the township. Upon completion, you will have the opportunity to purchase one of our custom Geocoins. Happy Caching!
Beech Acres Park
Located at 6910 Salem Road, Cincinnati, OH 45230, Beech Acres Park is a favorite among township residents of all ages! This multi-use park boasts amenities to suit a variety of recreational interests including a fantastic playground, a rentable shelter, an entertaining amphitheater, a Firefighter’s Memorial, athletic fields, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, restrooms, and a skatepark, all surrounded by a paved hike/bike trail. Beech Acres Park is also the site for some of the APD’s most popular events such as Summer Concerts in the Park, A Fair of the Arts, and Farmer in the Dell. Adjacent to the park is the RecPlex, which is home to the APD Recreation Department, featuring year-round, indoor recreation opportunities. Activities such as summer camps, basketball/volleyball leagues, cornhole leagues, children’s programs, junior high park parties and art classes take place year round; check out our full list of events, programs and leagues.
History of Beech Acres Park
The property containing the athletic fields at the Beech Acres Parenting Center had been managed by the Anderson Park District since 1993 and used by the community since the late 1950’s. Early in 1997, the same year the Nagel Park property lease expired, the opportunity arose to secure the land as a park for future generations. Because purchasing the land was not planned for in the APD’s 1992 Master Plan, the APD managed within the current budget framework to sell bonds that will be paid back over a 15-year time span; thus, the 26.9 acres became Beech Acres Park. This acquisition was essential since it was determined that the location and nature of this land is of great importance to the community.
After 1997, the APD began preparing for its next planning cycle. In doing so, the APD conducted focus groups and surveys to better determine what the residents of Anderson would like to see within the next 5-7 years for the APD new Master Plan. The focus groups and surveys showed the Beech Acres Park development as the most supported park improvement of 8 possible choices should the APD’s Operating Levy pass in November of 2000. On November 7, 2000, the APD’s Operating Levy did pass and so, with the limited remaining tax funds, plans were underway to develop this area into a park with amenities similar to that at Juilfs Park. The APD created a design concept for the park using input gathered from Anderson residents through a number of surveys, focus groups, and public planning meetings. The final park design consisted of amenities that catered to a wide variety of both passive and active recreational interests.
The APD embarked on the initial construction of the park in the summer of 2001 by expanding the existing parking lot on the east side of the park. The east lot is the same lot that was created through a partnership with the neighboring Parkside Church in 1999. Because both the church and the park required additional parking than what was available at the time, the park district and the church agreed to build a shared lot that would be used by church goers on Sunday mornings and used by park goers during all other times. For the main lot, the park district provided the land; Parkside Church covered the costs of construction. The partnership for the lot expansion worked in a similar manner. The park district provided the land and approximately one-third of the construction costs; Parkside Church once again covered the remaining costs of construction. The parking lot expansion provided over 100 additional parking spaces and contains a pedestrian sidewalk from Parkside Church to the park. The APD greatly appreciates this generous contribution from Parkside Church to the residents of Anderson Township. This partnership is a terrific demonstration of wise use of both organizations’ limited resources. For more information go to: Beech Acres Park
APD GeoTrail:
Feel free to collect each "Codeword" on our premade passport APD GeoTrail Passport
or use your own paper.
APD: Patch O' Pines
APD: Riverside Run
APD: Locust Lane
APD: Learn Laverty
APD: W. M. Johnson Hills Hike
APD: Hackberry Hollow
APD: Value Veterans
APD Geocoin
Upon finding each of our caches, geocachers can collect a code word from each cache. Write the code word down for each cache. Once you have found all the caches and collected all the code words, stop by the Anderson Parks RecPlex to purchase our custom GeoCoin! The Anderson Parks RecPlex is located at 6915 Beechmont Ave. and we are open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (excluding holidays). The first opportunity to purchase our GeoCoin was at our Launch event on September 26th, 2015.
Anderson Park District GeoTrail Launch Event
Contact Us
If there are issues with any of our caches, you have questions/concerns or if you just want to connect with Anderson Parks, please contact us by:
Phone: (513) 388- 5082
Email: APDReg@andersonparks.com
Fax: (513) 231-4190
Website: AndersonParks.com