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The City of Alliance owns the majority of the land surrounding the two
reservoirs with the Army Corp of Engineers controlling a small portion of land and a large portion of the water of Deer Creek Reservoir. In 1998 the city
leased the land around Walborn and Deer Creek Reservoirs to the Stark County Park District to manage for public recreation.
Since then, improvements to Walborn Reservoir have included the construction of a new marina, two-lane boat launch, paved parking lot, handicap accessible fishing pier and waterfowl hunting blinds. Boat rentals, bait, and food service are available April 1 through Columbus Day. An internal trail system is being developed which will connect with the Pontius/Price Connector Trail.
The Stark County Park District also has installed a handicap accessible fishing pier at Deer Creek Reservoir, and it will build a new boat launch in the summer of 2005 with partial funding provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Cooperative Public Boating Facility grant The construction of a trail along the west side of the Mahoning River between the Deer Creek-Berlin dam and Earley Hill Park in Alliance is scheduled to begin in 2005 with partial funding provided by a Clean Ohio Fund grant. This trail along the Mahoning River will form the eastern section of the North County Loop trail, and will eventually connect with Walborn Reservoir via the proposed east-west Pontius/Price Connector Trail.
The park district has agreements with the Army Corp of Engineers and ODNR's Division of Wildlife to manage wildlife and fishing programs at both reservoirs. 
Shore line protection and ecological
enhancement strategies are planned to improve the natural areas in the parks. Nearby fields, woodlands, and wetlands and are unique natural resources which will be preserved, and the surrounding farmlands offer a pastoral countryside that compliment planned recreational uses. The proposed trails will be suited for pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians.
