W.W. KNIGHT NATURE PRESERVE

29530 White Road, Perrysburg, Ohio

The W.W. Knight Nature Preserve is located in Perrysburg Township, between Perrysburg and Rossford,

on White Road just off East River Road (State Route 65). 

Opened to the public in October of 1997, the Knight Nature Preserve is a passive recreational facility giving visitors the opportunity to view and study the natural heritage of Wood County and northwest Ohio. 

Please click on photo thumbnails to enlarge

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Park open 8:00 a.m. to dark

• Woodlands

• Native prairie

• 1.5-acre pond

• Constructed wetland

• Grassy meadows

• Crushed limestone trails through varied surroundings

• Boardwalk traversing the wetland

• Youth Fishing (see below).

• Seasonal ice skating. Call (419) 353-1897 x 204 for ice conditions.

• Two mini-picnic shelters (non-reservable) with two picnic tables in each (no grills)

• Heated, air conditioned and award-winning Nature Center with Lookout on Nature Area (LOONA) and gardens, plus rentable Hankison Great Room (100 people) and William and Elsie Knight Library (6-8 people). This is the new home of the Program Department (Naturalists) and Ranger Department.

  • Hankison Great Room reservations available online and by phone (419) 353-1897 using a credit or debit card. To pay by cash or check, stop in at Park District Headquarters at 18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green.

  • No rentals can be reserved at the Nature Center itself.

  • Great Room rentals include the outdoor deck but do not include the lobby. If you rent the Great Room, you have not rented the entire Nature Center.

    • The system does not allow same month rentals. Rental cut-off is the 20th of the month prior to the upcoming month.

    • Nonprofits and Service Groups must call Park District Headquarters to receive special rates Monday-Thursday (not available online).

    • The Library is reservable only by calling Park District Headquarters.

Award-Winning Nature Center at W.W. Knight Preserve

Lobby  Library

All picnic shelters and trails are complete. The construction of the nature center is the final phase of the original site plan with the possibility of building a maintenance facility. 

Nature Center Architect Michael Muse of The Collaborative notified the Park District on November 8, 2005 that The Nature Center at W.W Knight Nature Preserve received an Honor Award through the AIA Toledo Design Awards Program. AIA Toledo is the regional American Institute of Architects chapter for Northwest Ohio. The program was established to celebrate design excellence and the submissions are juried by a group of architects outside of the State of Ohio. The Honor Award is the programs highest distinction.

YOUTH FISHING AT W.W. KNIGHT

• Adults may not fish alone at this pond. This location is set up specifically for youth and family fishing. Youth are designated as being age 15 or younger. Above this age, a fishing license is required for fishing.

• Youth can fish without an adult.

• Park open 8:00 a.m. - dark.

• No minnows allowed as bait. Worms are fine.

• Fisher youth may keep any bluegill or catfish they catch. Release all largemouth bass and amur.

• There is no "fishing season" with opening and closing dates at W.W. Knight Preserve. Youth may fish whenever the weather is good. However there is NO ICE FISHING.