WHEELING — As more families vacation in Oglebay and Wheeling Park, Oglebay Foundation President and CEO Eriks Janelsins is keeping an eye on what unique experiences these visitors want to enjoy at the parks.

Janelsins became involved with Oglebay in 2002 when he moved from Indianapolis to Wheeling as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Through this work, he was connected to the Oglebay Good Zoo and Oglebay Institute’s Schrader Environmental Education Center.

“I was in awe and inspired at what I found in Oglebay- one of the best park systems in the world,” Janelsins said. “In 2012, the Board of Directors entrusted me to work, in collaboration with Randy Worls, to steward the Oglebay Foundation and to grow the impact of the parks for the people of the Ohio Valley, forever. For the last 23 years, I’ve had the great fortune to live, work and play in one of the most active and beautiful places on the planet.”

The Oglebay Foundation works with individuals, families, local businesses and others to provide and steward donations to support enhancements at Oglebay and Wheeling Park. Oglebay Foundation donors support ongoing care for the parks’ gardens, trails and trees across 2,400 acres, as well as renovations and new capital projects to update the parks.

The organization’s donor community also supports scholarship programs to ensure “all local children have the opportunity and access to enjoy the healthy experiences that the parks provide,” Janelsins said.

To bring new updates and innovations to the parks, Janelsins outlined the foundation works in tandem with the Wheeling Park Commission, which sets the strategic plan for the parks.

“The Oglebay Foundation team works in partnership with Park leadership and our donor community to make these projects a reality,” Janelsins said. “The variety of park facilities and programs allows for a diverse and broad section of our community to make impactful gifts that are targeted at the donor’s specific interest — from supporting lifetime sports programs or conservation research at the Oglebay Good Zoo, to the beautiful gardens, to free music that everyone in the community can enjoy.”

As updates and improvements continue at the parks, Janelsins noted the importance of developing its workforce. He noted the parks are following the industry trend of building career pathways and providing training to create a team of “extraordinary, dedicated hosts.”

“While our parks include thousands of acres and hundreds of buildings, the park experience is all about people,” Janelsins said. “We strive to recruit and retain the best people to serve our community.”

In addition to employees, Janelsins said the Oglebay Foundation is focused on another vital group for the park — the visitors.

Janelsins identified a trend among young families who visit the parks of seeking out “unique experiences” on their trips. He gave Oglebay’s new lion habitat as an example of an “industry-leading experience,” as no other park in the country provides the opportunity for guests to stay in overnight villas connected to a lion habitat.

The Oglebay Foundation is also focused on providing unique experiences centered around food at the park. Janelsins cited the hydroponics and food production experiences and tours available in the Oglebay Grow Lab, which is located in the renovated Oglebay Greenhouse.

“There is a keen interest in unique food and beverage experiences, especially ones in the beauty of the park, that appeals to our community,” Janelsins said.