First responders called to Cox Arboretum on report person fell from tower

A person at Cox Arboretum MetroPark on Friday who fell from the park’s Tree Tower died.

“MetroPark Rangers were called to the scene Friday evening. This was an apparent suicide,” Mark Hess, chief of public safety at the Five Rivers MetroParks, said. “A 26-year-old man died after jumping from the tree tower. There is no evidence this was anything other than a suicide.”

Crews initially responded to reports of the incident at Cox Arboretum MetroPark located on 6333 Springboro Pike around 5:15 p.m., according to the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch.

The Tree Tower at Cox Arboretum MetroPark is accessible by climbing the staircase, and it rises 65 feet above trees there.

The tower has closed a few times throughout its history. In September 2016, it was closed after crews found soft spots in the structure’s three support logs. Fungus developed in the wood, and the tower was closed for safety reasons. Engineers determined the logs needed to be replaced.

The original cost to build the tower was $475,000. It first opened in October 2012 and was funded by the James M. Cox Jr. Arboretum Foundation and Five Rivers MetroParks.

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Holly Souther

Holly Souther is a staff writer for the breaking news team at Dayton Daily News and covers issues for Montgomery County. Souther seeks to create meaningful stories of interest, of relevance and other such important topics for local communities. Souther hopes to further create impactful pieces for everyday voices.