Freer Field

This 78-acre park lies near the heart of the city of Ashland. Freer Field has two miles of hiking trails, including a one-mile paved loop that seems to be in constant use every day of the year by hikers, runners, bikers, strollers, and more. These trails travel through several habitats. There are 30 acres of woods – half of which are magnificent stands of hickories, oaks, and other hardwoods – and the other half a peaceful pine forest full of holly bushes.

The trails also travel through grassy meadows that draw birds and butterflies with the variety of native grasses and wildflowers. The trail circles a large grassy area that offers opportunities for kite flying, frisbee throwing, and other family fun.

This park is a popular site for community events such as BalloonFest. There is a historic barn at Freer Field and a unique playground that was designed to be used by children of all abilities. Parking is available by the barn and off of Park Street.

Freer Field was donated to the Park District in 2008 by the Ashland County Commissioners to remain as open green space and to never be developed. Today, the park still benefits kids and their families. The new visitor center provides a space for families to picnic in the open air pavilion, reserve the community room for any occasion, and utilize the public restrooms. These restrooms and lobby are open from dawn to dusk year round. The visitor center also provides office space to staff which is open to the public from 8 a.m. to Noon Monday through Friday.

The park district has provided a new program “Everybody Rides” at Freer Field which provides hadicapped or disabled adults and children access to adaptive bicycles to ride on the paved trail. The bikes were purchased for the Park District by the Samaritan Foundation and a private interested citizen. These bikes available to the extent we have citizen volunteers to help us with the program. Citizens interested in volunteering should call the Park District office at 419-289-3524.