Discover Bethlehem: Park, views and community life

Bethlehem lies above the city of Wheeling, with views opening up along its ridges. Visitors planning a stay can combine this scenic side of the area with its local community and park connections. The Bethlehem Community Park brings together a community-provided park, a shelter available for rent and several event connections. Local history can be found elsewhere: Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church has its own founding and construction history, while the park is also associated with a monument. This gives you different themes to focus on during your trip.

Community Park: Shelter, facilities and events

The Village of Bethlehem provides and maintains Bethlehem Community Park. The John Daniel Shelter has a large grill and is available to rent. If you’d like to use the shelter for a gathering in the park, the grill and rental option are practical starting points. For a specific date, ask the village about availability. This lets you plan around a particular area of the park and tailor your visit accordingly.

The Caleb Smail Memorial 5K is held annually at Bethlehem Community Park; the park was scheduled to host the event on August 16, 2026. The annual Ohio County Relay For Life is also held in the park. It honors cancer survivors and people currently living with cancer, and raises money for cancer research. The two events have different focuses: the 5K centers on a race, while the Relay combines recognition and research fundraising. If you’d like to include either event in a future trip, check the organizers’ latest information; for the Relay, you should also confirm the future venue.

The development of individual facilities should also be considered in its historical context. In April 2017, the park’s miniature golf course was refurbished; the ball field was upgraded in the mid-2010s. If you’re planning to use either facility in particular, check its current condition in advance. Funding was also provided for a project to plan and build a hiking trail about 1,000 feet (around 305 meters) long in the park. If this specific trail is important to your plans, ask about its availability before your trip.

Local history and views

Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church was founded in 1950; the current brick building was dedicated in 1957. The founding and dedication of the current building are two distinct milestones in the area’s history. In 2013, another monument was erected in Bethlehem Community Park beside the Vietnam War memorial. The church’s dates clearly distinguish between its founding and the dedication of its building; the monument adds another commemorative connection to the park’s history. The views along the ridges provide a scenic point of interest for choosing your destination, independent of event dates.

Discover more destinations: Wheeling, Triadelphia.

For the broader travel overview: Ohio.