Would you like to be one of the first to hear about upcoming events and latest news about the park? Just fill out your information to be included in our newsletter. 100% safe and spam-free.

There are several easy ways to get to Ariel-Foundation Park depending on where you are in Mount Vernon.

From Downtown: Head South on Main Street and make a right onto Columbus Road. You can then turn right on Madison Ave for the Lakes, or right on Pittsburgh Avenue for the main parking area.

From SR36 & SR229: You can look for the Harcourt Road entrance to The Lakes, or use Pittsburgh Avenue to get to the main parking area.

Click the map below to get customized driving directions. If using Google, use 10 Pittsburgh Avenue as the address.

Urton Clock House and Museum
The Urton Clock House and Museum is open May 1 through September 30. Volunteers are needed to host the museum and offer general park information. Hours: Saturdays from 1-5 p.m., and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Possibly open durning concerts and special events, depending on the ability of our volunteers to host.

If you would like to volunteer or have questions please contact Susan Kahrl at [email protected] or phone (740) 501-4892.

GROUPS!
We welcome groups to provide volunteers at the Clock House - including civic groups, card clubs, church groups, 4-H clubs, etc. If you have a group of people, we'd love to have you "Adopt the Park" for a weekend and help staff the Clock House for a weekend. If your club/organization donates 10 hours, your group will be listed for the week on our new elctronic sign on South Main Street! Check our calendar to see available dates. Contact 740-398-6603 to schedule your group.

CA&C Welcome Center
Plans are underway to have volunteers at the CA&C Welcome Center starting later this summer as bicycle traffic increases on the trail. Those who would like to volunteer at the CA&C Station Welcome Center, please contact Carrie Haver at  (740) 392-6102.

Concerts
If you are interested in volunteering for the Free Summer Concert Series, all held at the Schnormeier Events Center, please contact Susan Kahrl at [email protected] or 740-501-4892.

Groups - "Adopt the Park" for a Week
We encourage civic groups and other organizations to Adopt the Park for a week throughout our open season. Your organization could opt to do some weeding/landscaping, trash pickup, volunteer at the Clock House/Museum for a weekend, provide concert assistance, or develop your own special project to serve the park. Please contact Carrie Haver for additional details: (740) 501-9293.

Friends of the Park

Give Online Now

Ariel-Foundation Park was developed by volunteers using funds and services donated by generous businesses, foundations and individuals. Following its Grand Opening on July 4, 2015, the park was given to the City of Mount Vernon. The Foundation Park Conservancy is a nonprofit organization committed to providing financial support for the park, preserving the park and developing programming for the park.

Tax-deductible contributions may be made to:   Foundation Park Conservancy, PO Box 644, Mount Vernon, OH 43050

VIEW A LIST OF 2023 FRIENDS OF THE PARK

View Annual Reports

PPG Employee Timecards

Former PPG employees can be honored with a permanent PPG Timecard which will be displayed in the Clock House. The cost is $250. Click below to fill out the form and make online payment.

Donate a PPG Timecard

Become a Lighting Partner

You can become a Lighting Partner and honor someone you love or celebrate a special occasion by "renting" the Rastin Tower lights or the downtown bridge lights for one night or longer. Ariel-Foundation Park will light the tower or bridges (or both) in the color(s) of your choice. Click to learn more...

Memorial and Honorary Gifts

Memorial or honorary gifts can be an especially meaningful way to commemorate a loved one or celebrate a personal milestone while also benefiting Ariel-Foundation Park.

Foundation Park Conservancy is able to accommodate a limited number of memorial and honorary Benches and Sunset Swings in strategic locations within Ariel-Foundation Park. Current costs range from $3000 for benches to $8000 for swings (subject to market changes) plus an additional 50% tax-deductible donation, which will be used to further the Conservancy’s mission to care for and maintain the 250-acre property.

If you would like to recognize someone with a gift of a bench or swing, please contact Mark Fritz, Executive Director, at [email protected] for current costs and availability.  Acknowledgements will be sent for all gifts, both to the donor and to the person or family of the person being memorialized or honored.

To maintain the beauty and mission of the park, all memorial/honorarium requests will be reviewed by the Foundation Park Conservancy Development Committee and are subject to approval.

Sunset Swings

Sunset swings have been a beautiful and appreciated addition to "The Lakes" area of the park. Each powder-coated metal two-seat swing will sit on a concrete pad, offering a place to relax while watching the sunset at the park. These swings will be a wonderful place to unwind at the end of stressful day; to share a special moment among family members; or to take prom, engagement or wedding photos. Each swing will feature a metal sign above with wording of your choice (limited characters). The cost to commemorate a swing is $8,000 (subject to market changes) plus an additional 50% tax-deductible donation. These funds cover creation of the swing, installation, and maintenance, as well as provide for care of the park. To learn more, contact [email protected]

Benches

The Foundation Park Conservancy is in the process of replacing wooden benches that provide a resting spot near the East Lake. They are weathered and aging. The plan is to replace them with more durable and modern iron benches as seen in the photo on the right. The cost to name a permanent bench in honor or memory of someone special is $3,000 (subject to market changes) plus an additional 50% tax-deductible donation to support care for the park. To learn more, contact [email protected]

Book Available

The book, “Ariel-Foundation Park: The Story of an Ohio Town that Preserved its History and Transformed an Abandoned Industrial Site into a World-Class Park” by Aaron Keirns is available for purchase at Paragraphs Bookstore and The Kenyon Bookstore.

Park Events and Projects

For information about supporting specific park events or projects, please contact Jeff Scott, Board President, Foundation Park Conservancy at 740-392-3270.