Cross Mound Park

The site was acquired 1994 by transfer from Ohio History Connection.

Some of the activities you can enjoy at this park are viewing Cross Mound and the WPA Pedestrian Bridge, birding and nature watching, photography, hiking or walking, dog walking, playing in the mown grassy areas, picnicking.

Cross Mound

At the top of a moderate incline just west of Salt Creek, a tributary of the Scioto River, is a unique, ancient earthwork called Cross Mound.  Very little is known about who constructed it or its purpose.

Cross Mound is in the shape of a plus sign, or cross.  It has four identical arms, each about 12 feet wide, 3 feet high and 45 feet long.  The ends of each arm are about 90′ apart.  Archaeologists have suggested its western arm was carved out of the surrounding landscape as opposed to the traditional approach of mounding soil to create a structure.  In the middle of the cross is a circular-shaped depression that is 20′ in diameter and about 12″ deep.  Its orientation nearly aligns with the cardinal points of north, south, east, west.

It may have been a part of the Great Hopewell Road, a 62-mile pathway that once connected the Great Octagon Earthworks in Newark to either High Banks Earthworks or Hopeton Earthworks in Chillicothe.

There is also a mound of stones to the southwest of the south-pointing arm of Cross Mound.  There are several smaller mounds nearby, some now are barely noticeable.  Four mounds formed a perfect square, 260′ on the diagonal.  Their purposes are unknown, also.

WPA Pedestrian Bridge

In 1935, during the Great Depression, the WPA (Works Progress Administration) was created by President Roosevelt.  In 1939 it was renamed Works Projects Administration.  For eight years the program put about 8.5 million people to work on projects including public works such as school buildings, hospitals, storm drains, roads, and bridges.

This is a suspension-type bridge with steel cables.  A restoration was completed in 2017 and was reopened for foot traffic.

A beautiful piece of history, it is the only WPA project remaining in Fairfield County.

This trail is approximately 0.5 mile long.

After crossing Salt Creek by the WPA Pedestrian Bridge, the path crosses a small foot bridge and begins a slightly steep incline to Cross Mound then around its southern arm.

Cross Mound Trail

After circling part of the mound, you will find the one of the small stone mounds on the left. The trail then follows a ridge for a short distance, curves to the left and begins the descent, looping back to the entrance of the bridge. The view into the ravine in the middle of the loop is stunning and visitors will often see wildlife there such as white-tailed deer.

The trail is natural, unpaved, and there are parts that can get muddy or slippery. It may be considered a moderate to difficult walk.

Reservations: No.

Electricity:  No
Bathrooms:  No

Description:  This shelter has four 14′ picnic tables and will seat approximately 28-32 people.  There is no paved path from the parking lot.