Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park

Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park covers a total area of 167 acres of land in Nelson Township, Portage County, Ohio. The park can be found near Cleveland, which is in the northeast sector of the state, by accessing U.S. Route 422 or State Route 305 through State Route 282. The actual address to the park is State Route 282, Nelson Township, Ohio.

The Nelson-Kennedy Ledges are the main trademarks of the park and have always been popular among hikers and those that want to picnic. The main facilities at the park include hiking trails and picnic areas. There are several other attractive rock formations including sandstone cliff formations and exposed outcrops of rock that have undergone intense erosion over time. The park where the land sits was purchased by the state of Ohio in 1940 and was later on given the status of a state park in 1948 to offer additional state protection and to preserve the area.

The biota in and around the park mainly consists of beech-maple forest land which also has other tree species including the Canadian Hemlock, Yellow Birch, and Canada Yew. Smaller plants and especially ferns are also prevalent in the area. Wildlife species within the park include songbirds, raccoon, skunk, fox squirrels, and other small mammals.

Like all other state parks in Ohio, the Nelson Kennedy Ledges State Park is a great park for those that want to hang out with their pets. You can bring your dog at no extra cost, but you must make sure that you strictly follow state park rules. Some of the more common rules to observe that specifically relate to dogs and dog owners include the following. You must keep your dog on a leash no longer than six feet long at all times and you must prevent your dog from going into park buildings and areas that are not designated as pet-friendly areas. Additionally, you should clean up after your dog immediately.