Final answer:
The Octagon Earthwork in Newark, Ohio, is currently used as a golf course by the Moundbuilders Country Club. It is a historical site from the Hopewell culture that is preserved but also serves as a recreation facility, providing a unique educational opportunity for visitors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The current use of the Octagon Earthwork in Newark, Ohio, is as a golf course. The earthworks are part of the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park but a portion of the site, including the Octagon Earthwork, is leased to the Moundbuilders Country Club which has maintained a golf course there since 1910. While it serves as a recreational facility, the site is also of significant historical and archaeological importance, representing the ancient Hopewell culture that thrived in the region around 1-400 CE.
Efforts have been made to balance the preservation of this historic site with its modern-day use. The National Park Service, archaeologists, historians, and the local community have collaborated to ensure that the Octagon Earthworks are both protected and appreciated by visitors. While playing golf, visitors are actually within an expanse of land shaped by the Hopewell culture, which serves as an outdoor museum of sorts and can be a unique educational experience.