This sixty-five acre tract was originally purchased in 1941 by Earl Wayne Strock for his children James T. Strock and Sarah M. Strock. Father and son operated several automotive service stations in Wooster and Orrville and distributed tires, wholesale gasoline, and other bulk petroleum products. In 1953, James acquired sole title to the property and thereafter used it as a family picnic area and Christmas tree farm. The property became affectionately known to friends and family as "The Pine Patch." On January 20, 2006, the Killbuck Watershed Land Trust acquired the land for the City of Wooster from the family of James T. and Marilyn Strock through a Clean Ohio Fund grant, supported by a substantial donation from the Strock children, Diane Strock VandenDorpel, Colonel James N. Strock, USMC, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick T. Strock, USMC, and John A. Strock, matching funds from the Donald and Alice Noble Charitable Foundation and The Rotary Club of Wooster, and in-kind donations from the Friends of Wooster Memorial Park, The Ohio State University, The College of Wooster, and other Wooster citizens.