Kame-Esker Park Interview With Jennifer White

Recently, we spoke with Jennifer White, Education and Outreach Manager for Kame-Esker Park, to learn more about her experience at one of the newest parks in Kent, Ohio. Here is what we learned.

With Kame-Esker Park’s grand opening in August, the Kent Community now has access to lush hiking trails and picturesque views under a canopy of multicolored leaves. The park offers 215 acres of nature, with activities and amenities for all ages.  We sat down with Jennifer White, the education and outreach manager for Portage Park District. She shared an inside look with us at this new addition to the Kent community.  

A key feature that makes the park unique is the main loop; its smooth surface makes it easier to navigate. Park naturalist Jenifer White told us about a group of senior citizens who were bussed to the park and could get around the main loop on the chip-and-seal path. The park has an all-natural play space that encourages kids to explore the wood and nature around them. It also has a well-connected water pump, a big pile of sticks and logs kids can build and rearrange into different things, and a netted fence that keeps it secure for play. A pavilion sits in the play area, creating the perfect spot to rest while still watching the kids.  “This is one of the parts I am most proud of. Our education team put a lot of thought into designing a space that was accessible to all different ages and abilities of kids,” White told us as we played with the water feature in the kids’ space. 

For those who want to feel closer to nature, the park has a one-mile hiking trail that takes you back into the woods by a beaver pond. A dense canopy covers the trails, letting light filter through just enough. Bird calls and the rustle of leaves fill your ears as you escape into the woods. You wouldn’t think you were in the suburb of Kent, based on how quickly the ambient sounds of everyday life gave way to nature’s whispers. The peaceful environment and sounds take over and guide your ears into a state of meditation. The team wants the public to feel as immersed in nature as possible, which is why the maintenance team doesn’t cut the plants lining the main loop path. This adds to how special the park truly is, giving us views of flowers with butterflies and other insects flying all around. 

From sweet summer florals to rich pine trees, it’s beautiful in every season. The park is funded by grants and a levy that keeps it running and helps maintain up-to-date facilities and trails. When you step into the park, you can tell how much care and hard work went into this project. Park staff are some of the most enthusiastic individuals about the amazing public spaces in this area. Speaking with Jenifer White, you could tell how passionate she is about nature, and that growing up on a farm was a driving factor in creating the play space.