Ohio Considers Adding Donald Trump’s Name to Wildlife Preserve

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is considering adding the name “Trump Wildlife Preserve” to the Charles O. Trump Wildlife Area, a 128-acre parcel in Pickaway County. The proposal, formally made on March 2, 2026, would not remove the existing name honoring Charles O. Trump, who donated the land to the state in 1996, but would add an additional designation for signage, marketing, and official references. Public written comments are being accepted until April 1, with a public hearing scheduled for April 8.

A History of the Wildlife Area and the Name

The Charles O. Trump Wildlife Area is located southwest of Columbus and was established through donations and state funds, with no federal funding used for its acquisition. ODNR currently identifies the area as being 6 miles southeast of Mt. Sterling.

The area has previously been the subject of confusion regarding its namesake. In December 2020, an ODNR website referred to the area as “the Trump Wildlife Habitat Hunting Preserve” during a period when Donald J. Trump was contesting the results of the presidential election. Agency websites now consistently use the full “Charles O. Trump” name.

The Proposal and Potential Interpretations

The proposed rule states that “Charles O. Trump will also be referred to as the Trump Wildlife Preserve.” An ODNR spokesperson was not available Saturday to clarify the reasoning behind the change, whether it was intended for brevity, to honor the former president, or to anticipate public perception.

Critics suggest that adding Donald J. Trump’s name, given his record on environmental policy, is not a neutral administrative decision. Some argue it appears to be a symbolic gesture rather than a practical update.

Previous Attempts to Name Ohio Lands After Trump

This is not the first attempt to name Ohio’s publicly owned lands after Donald Trump. In 2021 and again in 2024, Ohio Republicans introduced legislation to rename Mosquito Lake State Park to Donald J. Trump State Park, but these efforts failed to advance in the legislative process.

Ohio’s Naming Conventions for Public Lands

Most wildlife areas in Ohio are not named after prominent individuals. Notable exceptions include the Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area in Morgan County, named after the Olympic track star. Signal Ohio notes that Jesse Owens’s achievements were particularly significant, as he “single-handedly crushed Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy” at the 1936 Olympics.

Further Information

Details about the proposed rule change and instructions for submitting public comments can be found on the ODNR website.