Woodman Fen - Park in Dayton - 2490 Newcastle Dr, USA

I’ve only been here during the winter so I’m not sure what it’s normally like but the snow just melted so a lot of the trail was muddy. It was a short trail, a little less than a mile to do the whole thing but you should definitely go here if you want to take a short walk to clear your mind. We saw a few deer and all of the water was frozen which gave an eerie feeling but it was neat!

After seeing something online about this place, I felt like I had to check it out. While the trail itself was decent enough, it's nothing like you see in older articles and reviews, and any pictures you see with boardwalks are a lie. It looks like they applied several techniques to provide a durable path. I like how they used culverts throughout to keep parts of the trail from getting too muddy. I still wouldn't want to walk it after a hard rain. It might be nice if you live within a few blocks and have kids, but I really don't think I'll go back. It didn't really feel like a nature walk. It just felt like I was walking through someone's overgrown backyard.

Really beautiful, however it's so secluded that it's a little scary if you're by yourself. Especially since theres evidence of people being back there probably not up to their best behaviors. I'd come back, but as I'm a female probably not alone.

There aren't boardwalks as of July 2023. I couldn't find things pictured in other reviews. Perhaps this park was damaged in flooding at some point in the last few years. Its a secluded, short loop. Some of it is gravel-paved. Very quiet and quaint. It's located in the back of a residential neighborhood and there isn't a sign for the park name at the entrance. It could be mistaken for a utility maintenance lot until you see the trail board. I did find something to be unsettling for a lone hike, like neighbors have mentioned.

A very nice little wooded area in the middle of an urban area. The boardwalk is very nice but fairly short. The longer path around the outside is mostly dirt and can be muddy in places.

UPDATE August 2022 Beyond disappointed with MetroParks management of the Fen. I wasn't expecting to move back to Ohio and not be able to use the Fen in 2022. Worst of all part gravel is now on part of the perimeter trail when they could have come in via Norton over the landfill avoiding the Fen. So much the "sensitive nature of the Fen" as a reason for not reopening when it wasn't too sensitive for gravel. This where I spent my summers on mini bikes and motorcycles in early 70s

Small but really interesting place. The boardwalk is well maintained with benches placed at nice lookout spots. Don't miss the nature trail! It loops around right from the parking lot.

This is a nice little park tucked back in a neighborhood. The boardwalk is quite short but is great for anyone who cannot walk long distances or has mobility issues. The nature trail is messy but enjoyable (this is a wetland area). Wear old shoes and bug spray. This is a great place for bird watching.