Muskingum Student's Vision Enhances New Concord Reservoir Through Glenn Public Service Fellows Program

Thanks to the vision and leadership of junior Hannah Metzger, a Conservation Science major at Muskingum University, visitors to the New Concord Reservoir will experience a more welcoming, educational, and engaging community space through a series of beautification and educational enhancements completed this fall.

Muskingum's John and Annie Glenn (JAG) Public Service Fellows Program made the project possible, empowering students to identify community needs and create meaningful solutions through hands-on leadership experiences. Rev. Derek Wadlington and Dr. Samantha Bennett co-direct the Fellows Program. Funding for the JAG Program comes from a grant from the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation.

Through the initiative, Metzger successfully planned and implemented a variety of improvements designed to enhance the reservoir's appearance while increasing opportunities for environmental education.

Among the project's most visible additions are several new signs throughout the reservoir area. The upgrades include a directional park and reservoir sign, a prominent gateway sign welcoming visitors to the site, and six educational wildlife placards that highlight species commonly found around the reservoir. The signs feature information about butterflies, bats, dragonflies, painted turtles, mallard ducks, and bullfrogs, helping visitors better appreciate the area's natural ecosystem.

In addition to the educational enhancements, the project included significant beautification efforts around the reservoir playground and surrounding grounds. With help from members of the Muskingum men's and women's cross country and track and field programs, along with their coaches, volunteers added fresh mulch to the playground area, cleared debris around the newly installed signs, and planted flowers to enhance the site's overall appearance.

“I’ve always cared about parks, outdoor spaces, and the role they play in bringing communities together,” said Metzger. “I wanted to create something that would have a lasting impact, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see how this project enhanced the New Concord Reservoir for current and future visitors.

“Hannah was passionate that her high-impact experience be about revamping the park at the New Concord Reservoir as it serves the community and honors the memory of coach and educator Donna J. Newberry,” said Rev. Wadlington. “She put the plan together, then worked with Dr. Bennett, me, and Melissa Hartley in the Impact Center, who helps guide students through the financial logistics of implementing their project. Hannah coordinated with the Village to ensure the project met the Village's needs, and with the track and field and cross country teams to secure volunteer labor to complete it.”

The project exemplifies the mission of the JAG Public Service Fellows Program, which seeks to empower students to become active citizens and public servants through transformative experiences rooted in education, empowerment, and engagement.

For Metzger, the New Concord Reservoir project provided an opportunity to combine her interests in conservation, environmental education, and community service while creating a lasting resource for local residents.