By Monty Siekerman
Richard Kimmel helps one and a half year old Brody Hopson reach a water fountain at Ada War Memorial Park. Kimmel is the chief park ranger for the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District in Lima.

He was on hand at a free lunch, sponsored by ReStore Community Center, to talk with children about the duties of a park ranger and describe some of the different kinds of parks in the Lima area.

There are rivers, monuments, historical parks, and a bird sanctuary, among others.
The park district sponsors an apple festival, making maple sugar, environmental programs, and more.