Blacklick Woods

The beech-maple forest association in this preserve is considered to be among the least disturbed in central Ohio, although it was logged after settlement. The more mesic northern portion is a maturing beech forest with some sugar maple. The wetter southern area supports an interesting association of white and pin oak, white ash with specimens of red maple, red elm, shagbark and bitternut hickory, hop-hornbeam, American hornbeam and dogwood. Shrubs include spicebush and buttonbush. The seasonable ponds have an excellent population of amphibians. This preserve honors Walter A. Tucker, the founding director of the Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District and one of the individuals who helped establish the state nature preserve system.