Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Program Management

Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) is the largest conservancy district in Ohio. The district includes the Muskingum River watershed, encompassing more than 8,000 square miles statewide. The many MWCD parks, lakes, and recreation areas serve more than 3.5 million visitors annually.

To enhance the park visitors’ experience, MWCD developed a comprehensive master plan for facility improvements and amenities at six of its parks and marinas. The park master plan was developed with stakeholder and public input and included assessing current needs and trends.

MWCD turned to ms consultants, inc. to implement the plan. As the Program Management Consultant (PMC), ms is collaborating with the MWCD staff on 300 capital projects totaling more than $200 million. ms is helping turn MWCD’s vision into reality by taking their plan through to construction completion.

Six MWCD parks will be receiving upgrades: Atwood Lake Park, Charles Mill Park, Piedmont Lake Marina and Campground, Pleasant Hill Lake Park, Seneca Lake Park and Marina, and Tappan Lake Park. Each park will receive upgrades that align with its theme and its park visitor needs.

Upgrades include:

• Modern, full hookup RV campsites with hard surface pads
• Utility and infrastructure upgrades
• New restroom/shower houses and common areas with shelters.
• New children’s play areas
• Wi-Fi internet access
• New cabin neighborhoods with lake views and boat dock access
• Tent campsites
• Marina improvements
• Space allocation for the possible addition of water spray grounds­

All upgrades will be performed while maintaining park operations during the summer camping and boating seasons.

Each MWCD has its own theme, incorporating the location surroundings and visitor needs. The project improvements will solidify the themes at each:

• Atwood Lake Park. Featuring entertainment and event venues, the park is located in Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties.
• Charles Mill Lake Park. The park has natural, tree-lined shores, and sits in Ashland and Richland Counties.
• Piedmont Lake Marina and Campground. One of the state’s top fishing lakes, Piedmont is nestled in a secluded cove on the lake and is located predominantly in Belmont and Harrison Counties.
• Pleasant Hill Lake Park. This park is the place for active and challenging recreation. It is located in Ashland and Richland Counties. Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on the lake.
• Seneca Lake Park and Marina. Focused on water recreation, visitors to Seneca can enjoy power boating, sailing, and other amenities promoting activities both on water and on land. The park sits in both Guernsey and Noble Counties.
• Tappan Lake Park. Tappan is located in Harrison County and capitalizes on the scenic views provided by a combination of steep terrain and long narrow valleys. It offers ridge-top or lakeside camping. Visitors enjoy the wooded hiking trails throughout the park.

Photos provided by Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.