The park, along the Sandusky River, originally was dedicated as a tribute to conservationist Edward Schekelhoff during a ceremony Sept. 23, 1995, after the property was donated to the city by his family.

Since then, the area has remained an undeveloped city park with a view of the river from a natural trail.

Now, the park features a half-mile stretch of asphalt with an area overlooking the river. A 16-by-16-foot shelter with a picnic table at the far end also overlooks the water.

"The idea that it's designed for the handicapped is very appropriate," said Keith Schekelhoff of Plantation, Fla., son of the late Edward. "My mother and father were very involved with a handicapped couple the whole time of my growing up in Tiffin."

Schekelhoff said his parents befriended a paraplegic and his wife, who was a quadriplegic.

"He had use of his hands, so he could drive," Schekelhoff said. "He drove to our house on special occasions. And then we would go out and unload them from their car.

"Now, it's coming full circle, and it's really an exciting thing," he said. "It's absolutely wonderful. It's awesome. The park had originally been dedicated years ago. But it had never been improved."

Schekelhoff said he hasn't seen the new trail yet, but he is looking forward to it. He and his sister, Elaine Graham, of Monroeville, and her husband, Rick, also plan to attend. Rick Graham is the current state president of the Izaak Walton League.

The elder Schekelhoff, who died in 1989, was posthumously inducted in 1990 into the Ohio Conservation Awards Program hall of fame sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in recognition of a lifetime of contributions to conservation efforts.

"Mr. Schekelhoff was a primary force behind the development of the Ohio Scenic Rivers Program and lobbied successfully for the designation of the Sandusky Scenic River," according to a brochure provided by his son announcing the 1990 winners . "As a leader of the Izaak Walton League, he devoted his energies to educating others about the importance of protecting the environment. Mr. Schekelhoff's concern over the quality of our rivers was further exemplified through his involvement with the Ohio River Task Force and various shoreline cleanup projects. Mr. Schekelhoff's philosophies and actions serve as an example of excellent environmental stewardship."

His service to Izaak Walton started locally where he served as chapter president in the 1960s. He was IWL's national director in 1970 and served as state president from 1972-74. He also served as vice president of the National Izaak Walton Endowment Board.

He received the Seneca County Conservation Award while serving as county president, taught hunter education classes and was active with Boy Scouts and YMCA youth groups.

The improvements to Schekelhoff Nature Preserve were made possible by an Access to Recreation grant from the Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Mich. The project is one of five in Seneca County to be funded by the $419,000 grant. When added to $327,000 in local matching funds, the projects total $746,000.

In addition to Schekelhoff park, projects to make recreational facilities more accessible to the handicapped include an observation deck overlooking Rock Creek at Hedges-Boyer Park, a paved trail and shelter at the Seneca County Park District's Zimmerman Nature Preserve on SR 18, paved trails and other improvements to Opportunity Park at the Seneca County Opportunity Center and a paved trail and shelter at Tiffin University Nature Preserve on Miami Street just outside the city limits.

The parking lot at Schekelhoff park is just off North Water Street adjacent to the city's Water Pollution Control Center. The parking lot is small, but cars can overflow along the road outside the park entrance for the dedication.

To make a donation or for more information about helping complete the local matching funds goal, contact Andy Felter at (419) 447-8232 or Suzanne Donaldson at (419) 448-1791. Checks can be mailed to Tiffin Charitable Foundation, 68 S. Washington St., Tiffin, OH 44883.