Willard: Water, Parks and Local History

Willard offers travelers several specific points of interest: the reservoir and its water activities, park offerings, a city bike-share program and a historical namesake. If you are looking for a hotel in Willard, it helps to decide what you want to focus on during your trip. Several recreational activities take place at the reservoir; parks, cycling and local history offer other ways to spend your time in the area.

The Reservoir and Its Recreational Opportunities

Willard Reservoir has a water surface area of 199 acres and a shoreline measuring 2.3 miles. These two measurements describe different things: 199 acres refers to the water surface area, while 2.3 miles refers to the shoreline. The area and shoreline length cannot be compared directly: one measures the body of water in acres, the other the length of the shore in miles. Activities at the reservoir include walking, running, fishing, cycling and kayaking. They range from getting around on foot or by bike to fishing and kayaking, bringing together different recreational interests at the same reservoir. Check local rules before taking part. A kayak launch ramp was added at Willard Reservoir in 2019. Check the facility’s condition before using it.

Parks with Different Activities

A Storybook Walk with 18 stations was set up along Pepperidge Path in Willard Park in 2025. The stations give the walk a narrative structure and turn the trail into a specific destination for a park visit. Check the installation’s current condition before visiting. Willard City Park also has a 9-hole disc golf course. The two offerings differ in format: the Storybook Walk centers on the trail and its 18 stations, while disc golf centers on a nine-hole course. This lets you choose between a walk with literary stops and a sporting activity on the disc golf course.

Cycling: The Reservoir and Bike Share

Cycling is an option in Willard both at the reservoir and through the city’s bike-share program. The program acquired two Verve+ 2 Lowstep pedal-assist e-bikes and four Verve+ Electra Townie Original bicycles. The bicycles were to be distributed through the Willard Memorial Library. If you want to include bike share in your plans, check in advance whether the bikes will be available during your stay. This allows you to distinguish cycling at the reservoir from whether the city program’s bikes are available for your trip.

Name and Historical Information

Willard was named in 1917 in honor of Daniel Willard, president of the B&O Railroad. A September 2019 description by the Firelands Historical Society placed the Willard Historical Museum at that time in the Depot in the Park, not far from Main Street. These are two distinct historical points of reference: the city’s naming and a museum location described at that time. The dates refer to different things—1917 to the naming and September 2019 to the date of the museum description.

For the broader travel overview: Huron County.