McCammon Creek Park open to public with renovated Ohio Bicentennial Barn

ORANGE TOWNSHIP — Exploring fresh trails and the newly renovated Delaware County Bicentennial Barn will enhance the experience for visitors at McCammon Creek Park.

Preservation Parks of Delaware County invited outdoor enthusiasts to tour the renovated barn and new annex, hike the new trails with park staff and view historical displays from Gallant Farm during last weekend’s celebration.

The new Harvest trail is a mile-long loop around the barn area that connects to the parking lot off Bale Kenyon Road and Farmer’s Delight Drive. The Autumn trail is a half-mile trail that connects Autumn Applesauce Drive to the Harvest trail.

Park visitors can also stroll through prairie land via the 1.4-mile Sycamore Bend Trail, which connects to picnic tables, restrooms and parking.

The Orange Township multi-use trail system also connects each section of the park, allowing visitors to walk or ride a bike between them.

McCammon Creek Park includes McCammon Creek Park North, which opened in 2024, the new barn area and McCammon Creek Park East. In total, the park encompasses 248 acres of woodlands, restored stream corridors, prairies and trails.

“This is a moment that has been at least 10 years in the making,” Executive Director of Preservation Parks Mary Van Haaften said in a press release.

“It began with acquiring the first piece of property and continued with restoring native habitats, building trails and completing the renovation of the Bicentennial Barn for the community to enjoy.”

Bicentennial Barn renovations take center stage

The barn was the focus of renovation work.

It was originally constructed in the early 1900s. In 1999, it became one of Ohio’s 88 Bicentennial Barns to commemorate the state’s 200th birthday in 2003.

Scott Hagan, also known as the barn artist, painted the Ohio Bicentennial logo then, and repainted the logo in early August.

But renovation work involved more than preserving the barn’s status as a Bicentennial barn.

Preservation Parks prioritized repurposing the Vermont green slate roof, cupola, hand-hewn beams, original wood siding and traditional timber-frame construction, according to the release.

However, it was also equally important the space meet park needs, which is why Preservation Parks opted to add a modern annex, which includes:

• A service kitchen.
• Accessible restrooms with a universal changing station.
• Storage.
• Office space.
• And lower-level classrooms for future educational programming.

“Amid our growing county, this land has been preserved for future generations to explore nature and appreciate a treasured piece of Delaware County history,” Van Haaften said.

The barn is known as the “Jim and Gay McCammon Barn,” named after the life-long residents of Orange Township. Jim McCammon was a farmer who worked the land that is now McCammon Creek Park.

Bob and Sue Postle — daughter of the McCammons — donated the barn to Preservation Parks in 2019 and sold 32 acres for park development, according to a 2025 press release.

Equity Construction Solutions of Hilliard began renovating the barn in 2025.

Preservation Parks financed the $4.68 million barn renovations through the One-Time Strategic Community Investments Grant from Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly, private donations through the Preservation Parks Foundation and Preservation Park District funds.

“We are thankful for the support of our community and the dedicated work of the Preservation Parks Foundation for raising awareness and funds to support this project,” Van Haaften said.

Preservation Parks plans to develop McCammon Creek more in the future by installing a playground, a shelter and another bathroom facility, Communications Manager Beth McCollam said.

Park lovers can also look forward to two new Preservation Park sites opening soon, McCollam said.

Eagle Ridge Park is a new park comprising 60 acres of land that were formerly part of Camp Lazarus, a Boy Scouts of America site. Eagle Ridge will open to the public later this year.

Next year, Perfect Creek Park will welcome visitors to its 478 acres in Trenton Township.