It’s Nancy Clark, your friendly MetroParks of Butler County historian, back with another fascinating dive into park history. Join me for a look at everyone’s favorite birding area and the only MetroPark located in the City of Hamilton, Gilmore Ponds MetroPark. The park has undergone many changes since it became part of MetroParks of Butler County back in 1991, so let’s dive in!

The 1800s

Since Ohio’s founding in 1803, the park property has been primarily used for farmland. The park derives its name from a Mr. John Gilmore, a local farmer and businessman who bought and sold farmland in Butler County in the mid/late-1800s. Gilmore owned several farms, including the one that encompassed the park. Historically, the park’s large pond and other local ponds were used to harvest ice for the growing number of meat-packing facilities and breweries in the Cincinnati area. The low-lying land often flooded each year due to failing dikes, especially after the Miami and Erie Canal situated along the northern edge of Gilmore Ponds was abandoned. While industrial businesses began purchasing property in the area, Gilmore Ponds remained a wetland.

Becoming a Birding Destination

The park’s original 10 acres along the former Miami-Erie Canal were gifted to MetroParks from the Hamilton chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America. During the 1980s, the remaining parkland passed through the Nature Conservancy and Raptors, Inc. before it was transferred to MetroParks. Oblivious to all the land transactions, wildlife – especially waterfowl – gather in the area every spring to build nests and raise their young. Spring also brings a bounty of migratory birds to Gilmore Ponds from across the continent and South America as they migrate north to summer in the northern United States and Canada. The park’s avian population is so diverse, birders visiting the area can observe an average of fifteen different species with just a short walk!

Not Just a Park for Birders

Gilmore Ponds MetroPark is not just a great park for birding enthusiasts. Two primitive trails and a paved bike trail wind their way through the park, and are great walks and rides for anyone who likes to hike or bike. The Wetlands Trail is a 1.8-mile loop easily accessible from the North Gilmore Road parking lot. The trail crosses over the old canal channel and meanders between the Kingfisher Pond and Cattail Marsh, where you can stop and view local wildlife from several observation platforms. The Bilstein Blvd. parking lot is the beginning point for the Highlands Trace, a 1.1-mile loop that leads to the observation deck over Cattail Marsh. The third and final trail is the paved Miami 2 Miami Trail, which opened in May 2023. The 4.5-mile out/back trail follows the Miami-Erie Canal and stretches from the Gilmore Rd. Entrance east to State Route 747. This trail was one of the first legs in the Miami 2 Miami Trail project, which will eventually connect the Great Miami River Trail with the Little Miami Scenic Trail.

Explore Gilmore Ponds MetroPark with a MetroPark Naturalist

If you’ve never been to Gilmore Ponds MetroPark before, May is the perfect time to get outside and hit the trails with your binoculars! The Big Week of Birding is nearly upon us, which brings a plethora of migratory birds to the park as they stop over during their annual migration. If you’re new to birding or an avian expert, MetroParks has a great opportunity to explore Gilmore Ponds with one of our expert naturalists. All ages are welcome to the Big Week of Birding Hike from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. on May 10th, which is offered at no cost. No registration is required! Find out more information here.

We hope to see you in the park!