Sheldon Marsh hailed as nature therapy location

HURON TWP. — Need a place to chill out? The best place to relax outdoors in Ohio is in Erie County, according to a news release from a mental health company. Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve — located on Cleveland Road West (U.S. 6) in Huron, just west of Rye Beach Road — represents the best place in Ohio for nature therapy, according to a news release issued by A Mission to Michael found at amfmtreatment.com. The company offers mental health treatment in various areas of the U.S., but does not list an Ohio location. A little more than 3,000 respondents nationwide were asked where to go to seek solitude, and Ohioans picked Sheldon Marsh as the top location. Here's how the news release described Sheldon Marsh: "Right on the edge of Lake Erie but a world apart, this flat, easy trail winds through forest and wetland to a peaceful shoreline where waterfowl drift and the horizon feels infinite. At sunset, it's almost too pretty. You don't need to do much here — just walk slowly and let the sky do its thing." If you are curious, the runners-up for outdoor relaxation in Ohio are: • Conkle's Hollow Nature Preserve in Hocking Hills came in second place. • Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve in Wayne County came in third place. What is nature therapy? "Nature therapy," by the way, is a real thing. WebMD, a popular internet website, explains, "Nature therapy, also called ecotherapy, is the practice of being in nature to boost growth and healing, especially mental health." "More and more research suggests that spending time in natural environments can be linked to mental health benefits," an article on the website states. "For example, being in a greenspace has been linked to less anxiety, fewer depression symptoms and lower stress levels. Spending time in nature helps people with depression and kids with attention problems think more clearly." The Ohio Department of Natural Resources website for Sheldon Marsh doesn't claim therapeutic benefits for Sheldon Marsh, but it does indicate it's a pretty nice outdoor attraction with 2 miles of hiking trails. The website notes it is a wetlands area that provides "some of the last remaining undeveloped stretches of shoreline in the Sandusky Bay." The website article also provides this description, "This 472-acre preserve is known to attract nearly 300 bird species and provides habitat for many kinds of wildflowers." In addition, Erie MetroParks has 14 parks and recreation areas with more than 30 miles of trails, providing access to nature therapy for all areas of the county. A map at eriemetroparks.org/parks shows those locations.