Great Parks Update on Winton Lake
Great Parks has suspended all water-based recreational activities at Winton Lake, including paddleboarding, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, after observing an active sewage leak in the area near Winton Woods Harbor. This decision was made to protect employees, volunteers, guests and neighbors, and after consulting with Hamilton County Public Health and the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) of Greater Cincinnati. Great Parks has also notified the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which is standard practice. Current park alerts and closures are always posted online at GreatParks.org.
Non water-based activities throughout Winton Woods remain available.
Great Parks, in collaboration with Hamilton County Public Health, routinely tests bacteria levels in its recreational lakes. This testing process revealed that one of the two testing sites at Winton Lake was found to have elevated E. coli bacteria levels, results which were reported to Great Parks on June 12. Under guidance from Hamilton County Public Health, Great Parks immediately posted signs around the lake encouraging guests to wash hands and to not swallow lake water, and handwashing stations were also posted near the lake’s edge. Closer inspection at the lake by Great Parks revealed the sewage leak, at which point Great Parks immediately suspended water-based recreational activities at Winton Lake.
Fishing and water-based recreation were immediately suspended at the Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo. Non water-based activities, including ziplining, rock climbing, golf instruction, archery and other interactive activities, plus Saturday’s 5K, 10K and Kids Adventure Dash, will continue as scheduled.
Swimming is prohibited at Winton Lake, in accordance with Great Parks bylaws.
Great Parks is actively working to flush and repair the damaged pipe. Great Parks will also continue to be in communication with MSD and Hamilton County Public Health about this incident and will share updates about Winton Lake as they become available.