Photo: Public domain · Public domain6% of Newark’s land is conserved: 822 acres
The biggest trail networks: Octagon Earthworks (2.7 mi), TJ Evans Family Park (1.1 mi). 77% of residents live within a half mile of a park. 752 acres are parks and preserves, 15 per 1,000 residents.
Ahead of 61% of U.S. towns · #378 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
How much outdoors does Newark have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Newark is ahead of 61% of U.S. towns, #378 of 993 in Ohio. Conserved land holds the grade up; trail miles pull it down.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Octagon Earthworks, with 2.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Horns Hill Park
All 12 parks & preserves
822 conserved acres
6% of Newark’s land. Who manages Newark’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1 acre is a conservation easement, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licking Springs Golf Course Private Park | Private owners | 160 | Open |
| Moundbuilders Country Club Private Park | Private owners | 137 | Open |
| T.J. Evans Family Park Local Park | Land trusts & nonprofits | 125 | Open |
| Edwards Field/Babe Ruth Park Local Park | Town or city | 119 | Open |
| Horns Hill Park Local Park | Town or city | 103 | Open |
| T.J. Evans Athletic Complex Local Recreation Area | Private owners | 40 | Open |
| Levin Park Local Park | Town or city | 21 | Open |
| Denman Park Local Park | Town or city | 19 | Open |
| Sharon Valley Road Park Local Park | Town or city | 19 | Open |
| Everette Park Local Park | Town or city | 18 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
14 places to go in Newark
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Plus 10 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
1 picnic area without a name on the map.
2 lakes & rivers
15 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
20 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 11 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
8 more on the History page.
The best walking months in Newark: April and August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.6 | 10.6 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.0 | 14.7 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 9.9 | 9.3 |
| High (°F) | 37 | 40 | 51 | 64 | 73 | 81 | 84 | 83 | 77 | 65 | 52 | 41 |
| Rain (in) | 2.9 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
February is the driest month (2.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 84 °F). 4.4 inches fall in July, the wettest month. The climate in Newark →
Newark and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | 6% | 0.2 | 15 | 77% | B |
| Newark Township | 2% | 0.1 | 4 | 40% | C− |
| Granville Township | 4% | 0.3 | 20 | 55% | B− |
| Madison Township | 15% | 0.1 | 26 | 36% | B |
| Heath | 3% | 0.5 | 20 | 53% | B |
| Granville | 9% | 0.9 | 24 | 83% | A− |
| Union Township | 3% | 0.3 | 47 | 50% | B |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Newark
Where can I hike in Newark?
The longest trail networks: Octagon Earthworks, 2.7 miles; TJ Evans Family Park, 1.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Newark is conserved land?
6% of its land, against a typical 3% for an Ohio town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Newark’s trails?
Octagon Earthworks and TJ Evans Family Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Newark?
15 miles of bike routes are on the map: 0.8 of painted or protected lanes, 14 of off-road paths and 0.9 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Newark?
7,441 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Newark or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 752 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Newark have?
Ahead of 61% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #378 of 993 in Ohio. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Newark neighbors.
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →