A cross section of a tree trunk, put on display here in the 1960's, traces the history of land that is now Oak Openings Preserve Metropark through marked tree rings: first settlers arrived in the 1830's; in the 1930's, 67 acres of parkland were acquired at Monclova Road and State Route 64, 334 acres were added at Reed and Wilkins Roads, Mallard Lake and Wintergreen Lake were dug by hand, and shelters were constructed as WPA projects; in the 1940's, the park expanded to 2,779 acres; in the 1950's, Mallard Lake became the main center of public activity, Evergreen Lake was dug in the fall of 1956, and a Boy Scout camp was built across Wilkins Road from the future site of Oak Openings Lodge; in the 1960's, Oak Openings Lodge was built and a 17-mile Boy Scout hiking trail was constructed; and in the 1970's, after additional land was purchased within its outside boundaries, Oak Openings Preserve Metropark grew to over 3,600 acres for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.