Education Centers

Exploration Gateway

5712 12th Street NW
Canton, OH 44708

Facility Hours of Operation:

Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, 1 p.m to 5 p.m.

Congressman Ralph Regula Canalway Center Hours of Operation:

Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, 1 p.m to 4 p.m.

The new two-story 41,000-sq foot Exploration Gateway is believed to be the only park-library partnership of its kind in the country. In addition to the Perry Branch library, the Exploration Gateway features a visitor information center, the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation Science Classroom, and a state of the art video conference room. The Congressman Ralph Regula Canalway Center highlights the significance of the Ohio & Erie Canal's role in shaping the history of our state and nation. FeLeap's Lily Pad Gift Shop features Stark Parks merchandise, local products, and a small concession area. Two large community meeting rooms with catering available from AA Executive Catering round out the building's indoor public spaces.

Outdoor visitors will experience scenic overlooks of Sippo Lake and enjoy picnic areas, a gazebo, Children's Garden, and a new trail connecting the Exploration Gateway to the Sippo Lake Marina. The trail features a recycled plastic boardwalk.

Complementing the conservation mission of the park district, the building features geo-thermal heating and cooling, which decreases electricity consumption by using the earth's natural 55-degree temperature for cooling in summer and warming in winter.

David Fichtner Outdoor Education Center

12833 Market Avenue
Hartville, OH
 

Hours of Operation:
The center is open for scheduled programs and by appointment.
Call 330-477-3552 or check our program calendar for details.

This 13-acre education facility honors the memory of the late David Fichtner, a Goodyear chemical engineer. The Center includes wooded hiking trails, fishing pond, and wetlands. Archery and Adventure Camps are held at the center during the summer. The Fichtner family home was donated to Stark Parks with the property in 2000.