Stark County Park District

Introducing and celebrating our Employee of the Quarter recipients from 2025 as nominated by their Stark Parks colleagues.  Linda Kuhn, Staff Accountant 1st Quarter 2025 Because of her exceptional efforts in the Finance Dept. to assist colleagues with Purchase Orders and many financial questions and situations. Gage Kimble, Park Ranger 2nd Quarter 2025 His willingness to go above and beyond in ways that have made a real difference for the safety of our parks. Including the revamp of our First Aid, CPR, and AED training so it is practical and engaging for staff and volunteers and how prepared participants feel in emergency situations. Vanessa Shanower, Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist 3rd Quarter 2025 Known as a "does it all" and "above and beyond" employee at the Wildlife Conservation Center for her knowledge and instructions helping guide volunteers, interns and seasonals, and newer colleagues in daily tasks and compassionate care of wildlife. Jenna Keiffer, Digital Media Specialist 4th Quarter 2025 Described as a breath of fresh air and someone who takes time to get to know people from different departments so that she can share what they do and their story through social media and publications. 

Ever wanted to know what it's like to be a park ranger? The Stark Parks Ranger Explorer Program offers a unique opportunity for young adults ages 15-20 to observe, explore, and engage in real-life situations involving natural resource enforcement, wildlife laws, and public safety. ➡Interested and want to learn more? Visit StarkParks.com/Rangers for details and to apply.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of our community remains a top priority. One of the simplest ways visitors can help protect themselves and their stuff is by taking a moment to secure their vehicles before heading out on the trails. A few steps can significantly reduce the chance of theft or damage, such as: -Locking your doors  -Closing your windows -Removing valuable belongings -Keeping your car keys on you If you see something, say something. For more information, watch this video below: https://lnkd.in/gva3nTrX

Meet Bonnie, Service and Sales Coordinator at Stark Parks! For the past 18 years, Bonnie has worked hard behind the scenes to ensure our guests have seamless, memorable experiences across Stark Parks facilities. Her day-to-day work is never the same- one moment she’s coordinating meeting room reservations, and the next she’s organizing shelter and marina rentals or assisting with merchandise sales. No matter what the day brings, the bottom line for Bonnie is simple: exceptional customer service. Bonnie is excited for the opening of the Tam O’Shanter clubhouse, set to be open to the public for rentals by early 2026. She’s thrilled to have been part of the planning and prep that will bring this new space to the community. For Bonnie, the best part of Stark Parks is the people- both the team she works with and the park patrons she serves: “I’m fortunate to work alongside people I genuinely value, and the opportunity to serve our guests makes every day exciting and rewarding.”

Meet Chelsie, Human Resources Manager at Stark Parks! For the past three years, Chelsie works hard to organize, maintain, and enhance the workplace for all employees. Her day-to-day schedule consists of organizational planning, training and development, policy updates and compliance, and employee life cycle management with union and non-union workforce. One of Chelsie's proudest accomplishments? In 2024, she led a full-scale revision of the employee handbook and improved our onboarding and training platforms. In January 2023, Chelsie earned her SHRM–Senior Certified Professional certification, as well! For Chelsie, the best part of Stark Parks is the ability to give back: "We take pride in our parks and want the public to have a great experience anytime they visit one of our properties throughout stark county. I have the honor of working with a wonderful group of people who share the same mindset and desire to meet the needs of the public."

Stark Parks celebrated volunteer accomplishments in 2025 at the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner at the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park earlier this month. Through September, over 12,917 volunteer hours have been logged in 2025 by individuals and groups. These difference makers were celebrated at the annual Volunteer Recognition dinner along with several special awards. 

💚Thank you to students from Louisville Highschool for your hard work last week at Sippo Lake Park and Quail Hollow Park. In honor of Kindness Day, nearly 50 students rolled up their sleeves across Stark Parks. At the Wildlife Center, they cleaned enclosures, tackled dishes and laundry, and cleared weeds around animal habitats. At the Exploration Gateway, students helped remove invasive privet using loppers and hand saws. Meanwhile, others worked at the Sippo Lake Marina, pulling weeds around the facility, and at Quail Hollow Park, where they freshened up the Herb Garden.

🌳👥Looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community? Stark Parks long-term volunteer applications are now open! Our dedicated volunteers are an extension of our staff, helping with everything from maintaining our trail systems, rehabilitating wildlife, and help protecting important natural, historic, and cultural resources. If you’re ready to make a lasting impact, apply today ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g5Sn37rE

Meet Shamela, Finance Assistant at Stark Parks! For the past two years, Shamela has been keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. Her day-to-day includes processing invoices, paying utility bills, ordering supplies, distributing mail and uniforms, and even tracking park vehicle titles and plates. But what matters most to her is being a support system for her co-workers. One of Shamela’s proudest accomplishments? Partnering with our IT Administrator, Mike, to review accounts and eliminate outdated services, which ultimately saved Stark County taxpayers money last year. For Shamela, the best part of Stark Parks is the culture: “Here at the Park, it’s about the people and what we can do to make their experience a wonderful one. No matter your role, we all do it for the people.”

💚Thank you to the Malone University "Into the Streets" program for your hard work this past month! This program is a mandatory service-learning initiative for first-year students, incorporating them into the Canton community and aligning with the university's motto of "Christ's Kingdom First" by fostering service leadership and faith integration. At Quail Hollow Park, their team helped restore the Herb Garden and cleared weeds. They also explored the grounds to learn more about our honeybee hives and wind phone.