The West Chester (then Union Township) Board of Trustees made a motion February 10, 1976 to approve the procurement of 123 acres of land on Barret Road to establish Keehner Park.
One hundred acres of the property was purchased from John S. Keehner and Hilda B. Keehner at a price of $235,000 thanks to a special parks tax issue approved by voters and with funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Program that is administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The remaining 23 acres were donated by the Keehner family, one of our community’s founding farming families and for whom the park is named.
The Cabin in the Clearing came into being on the west side the park in the early 1990s thanks to a fundraiser by Lakota students and local businesses. The cabin is dedicated in memory of “Miss Mary” Raffel, the longtime West Chester Parks, Recreation & Activities Coordinator who served the community from 1988 until her passing in 2008. Historically accurate exterior renovations are underway in 2023 to preserve the cherished landmark for the education and enjoyment of future generations.
The Keehner Park Amphitheater celebrated its grand opening on Labor Day 1997 with a community event and a then-debut concert by the West Chester Symphony Orchestra. The amphitheater was built in the late 1990s, thanks in part to a NatureWorks grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resource, to host outdoor music and theater productions. The free Keehner Park Concert Series – where the West Chester Symphony Orchestra continues to perform twice per year – has remained a popular summer tradition for the enjoyment of residents for more than two decades.
About $437,660 has been invested in improvements and maintenance at the park since 2015. Today, amenities include modern playground equipment; youth baseball and softball fields organized by Pisgah Youth Organization; and free play soccer fields as well as basketball, pickleball and tennis courts. When winter conditions allow, many families make Keehner Park their snow sledding spot.
Fun Facts
There are a half dozen covered picnic shelters available to rent – perfect for birthday parties, reunions, etc. Reservations are $30 per day and must be made in advance online.
The creekside wooded trails were recently marked and mapped thanks to an Eagle Scout project. Blue markers for mountain biking, red for walking/hiking, and green for the inner loop.
The east fork of the Mill Creek cuts through the park and makes for great creeking adventures. Fossils left here were formed more than 400 million years ago – hunt but please don’t keep.
Free community events like Pumpkin Fest and Pioneer Christmas take place at the park annually.
“Foundations” is a series of stories recounting momentous occasions in West Chester, Ohio history. Subscribe to the COMMUNITY REPORT e-newsletter and visit www.WestChesterOH.org/200 to learn more about Township history as we celebrate our 200th birthday bicentennial anniversary.