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Friends of the Park
Mount Vernon was recently named "Best Hometown" by Ohio Magazine--and for good reason! An on-the-rise central Ohio community of 17,000, Mount Vernon is a place where people smile and say hello to you on the sidewalk. They’re happy to recommend the best cup of coffee in town or point you to the best place for a family meal. People of all ages will find something entertaining, educational, and engaging. Explore a local park with your family, take in a show at one of our historic theatres, race the kids on a giant waterslide, or enjoy a delicious fresh-baked treat while shopping downtown.
Learn more about Mount Vernon and Knox County at the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau. You can also read more in a special section of Ohio Magazine dedicated to Knox County.
Ariel-Foundation Park is privileged to be located directly on the Heart of Ohio Trail (HOOT). The HOOT trail meets the Kokosing Gap Trail at the CA&C Depot on South Main Street in Mount Vernon, which also seves a a welcome center. The park is a great place to stop for a picnic lunch, to climb Rastin Tower, to fish, or take in a summer concert or movie event. The park also has three lakes perfect for kayaking and is adjacent to the Kokosing River Scenic Waterway.
Public restrooms and water fountains are located at the CA&C Depot, Schnormeier Event Center, and the Kiwanis Picnic Pavilion (by The Lakes).
Sidewalks can take you directly from the trail and the park into downtown Mount Vernon, where you will find a variety of restaurants, bakery, coffee shop, bookstore, art galleries and shops, and Y-Not Cycling and Fitness (206 South Main) for all your cycling needs.
For more information:
Park/Visitor Rules
Heart of Ohio Trail
Kokosing Gap Trail
Ohio to Erie Trail
Ohio Bikeways
Knox County Park District
Central Ohio Greenways
KnoxWays - links to dining, camping, activities, event/festival calendar and more
Pelotonia
(Photos courtesy www.knoxways.org and www.knoxcountyohio.org.)
You can become a Lighting Partner for the Rastin Tower and/or Downtown pedestrian bridge and honor someone you love or celebrate a special occasion by "renting" the lights for one night or longer. Ariel-Foundation Park will light the tower in the color(s) of your choice. PLEASE NOTE: We need at least one week's notice.
Included:
- Announcement on Ariel-Foundation Park social media
Ideas:
- Special anniversaries
- Milestone birthdays
- Wedding color(s)
- School/alumni color(s)
- Retirements
- Causes like Breast Cancer Awareness and National Police Week
Price:
| Location | One Color/ One Night |
Two Colors/ One Night |
One Color/ One Week |
Two Colors/ One Week |
| Rastin Tower | $50 | $75 | $275 | $450 |
| Pedestrian Bridge | $50 | $75 | $275 | $450 |
I
f your lighting is for more than 2 colors, or for longer than one week, please contact our Park Facilitator for pricing details at 740-501-9293.
Terms of Application:
- Applicants will be officially notified of acceptance or rejection via e-mail or phone.
- Unavailable dates include July 4 and Christmas or any other dates the Foundation Park Conservancy has a specific lighting scheme planned.
- Ariel-Foundation Park is under no obligation to provide any feedback if application is denied.
- The Foundation Park Conservancy has sole discretion over what lightings are and are not approved.
- There is no agreement renewal; current/past Lighting Partners must apply each year to be considered.
- Approved applicant must promote the lighting beyond the included publicity.
- Rastin Tower will not be lit for political campaigns or candidates, or religious holidays other than Christmas.
Thank you to our 2023 Friends of the Park donors, sponsors, and supporters who have collectively contributed more than $75,000 to help care for and maintain this 250-acre jewel and keep Ariel-Foundation Park looking beautiful year-round!
Ariel Corporation
Barbara Barry
Melanie Bolender
Barry Bowden and Jackie Johnson
Maureen Buchwald
Keith and Kate Burley
Todd and Christy Burson
Jeff and Cheri Butcher
Ellis Brothers
Linda Ellis, in memory of Hunter Wright
Burt and Lois Hanson
Bill and Cindy Higgs
Brian and Amanda Huprich
Susan Kahrl
Cameron and Christine Keaton
Kenyon College
Knox Community Hospital
Knox County Foundation
Inge Krajenski
William Lawhon Jr.
Doug and Julie Leonard
Bill Levering
Gerald and Barbara Lindstrom
Elizabeth Lutwick
McDaniel CPA
Deborah Massa
Dick and Peggy Mavis
Chuck and De Merrilees
Mike and Paula Miller
Joe and Krys Mortellaro
Mount Vernon Rotary Foundation
Steve and Jeanne Mullendore
Josh and Meredith Mullet
Amy Murnen
Susan Murray
Joe and Sally Nelson
Dan and Carolyn O'Brien
Marc and Jen Odenweller
Stanley Osborn
Steven Oster
Park National Bank
Noel and Suzanne Parrish
Parrish-O'Neil & Associates
Michael Percy and Nicole Pagano-Percy
Mark and Denise Ramser
Roger and Chrystal Rardin
Tom Rastin
Larry and Sarah Goslee Reed
Stephen Rex, in memory of Suzanne Mayer Rex
Kim and Pam Rose
Keith and Vickie Sant
Kurt and Sandy Schisler
Ted Schnormeier
Jeff and Stephanie Scott
William and Donna Scott
Carol Shurlow
Ora and Sue Smith
David and Kim Stuller
Martha Stuller
Jan Thomas and Gary Doernhoefer
Dennis and Pat Tuttle
United Aggregates, Inc.
Larry and Nancy Vail
Ian and Charlotte Watson
Bruce and Kathy White
Karen Buchwald Wright
Sam and Tate Wright, in honor of Ralph and Arlene Bross
Gordy and Fran Yance
More Articles ...
To reserve a venue or picnic pavilion, click here or call 740-501-9293.
Vision Statement
• Ariel-Foundation Park will be a world class example of adaptive reuse that honors its industrial heritage and is the focal point for recreation, entertainment, and social interaction in Knox County.
Mission Statement
• The mission of Foundation Park Conservancy is to lead and support the economic stability, preservation, development, programming, and promotion of Ariel-Foundation Park in collaboration with the City of Mount Vernon.