Permits to be Required in Ohio Town to Mow State Parkland

Next year, property owners at Rocky Fork Lake in Highland County, Ohio whose lots adjoin state parkland will be required to obtain permits in order to continue mowing these public areas, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). 

Any landowner that is currently mowing state park property may apply for the necessary permit at the Rocky Fork State Park office between Sept. 15 and Dec. 15.  Mowing permits will be available at no charge and may be renewed every two years as long as permit criteria is met.

In addition, these property owners must immediately begin removing any physical signs of encroachment they’ve placed on this public parkland, including, but not limited to, playground equipment, fences, yard furniture, picnic tables and rock gardens. Land disturbances such as flower beds and gardens in these areas must be filled, graded and seeded by the property owner.

Virtually all 1,384 acres of the Rocky Fork Lake shoreline are part of Rocky Fork State Park. Many of the 400-plus residents whose properties adjoin the park have encroached on this publicly owned land, mowing to the lake’s edge in order to enhance their personal access to the shore or improve their view of its panorama.

“Over the years, many property owners at Rocky Fork Lake gradually began to mow and maintain state parkland - in effect, claiming it as their own,” says Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. “This has limited the public’s rightful access to the lakeshore and, in some cases, had a negative effect on water quality.”

ODNR is currently surveying the boundaries and placing markers on the park’s perimeter in order to differentiate the line between private and public property. These markers are meant to be a guide for local residents performing routine yard work.

Rocky Fork State Park records about 715,000 visitors each year who fish, swim and boat on the 2,080-acre lake and picnic, hunt and hike on the surrounding shoreline. For information about the process required to obtain a permit, please call the park office at 937/393-4284.  Copies of the permit form may be viewed and downloaded online at: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/rockyfrk.htm.