The first concert of the season, Canfield, OH native and Nashville recording artist A.C. Jones, in the Live! at the Morley concert series lineup will be cancelled on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 and rescheduled for Monday, August 12, 2019. The adjustment is due to recent weather conditions. The rescheduled date is a special opportunity to enjoy an end of the summer concert with one of the Valley’s foremost country music entertainers.

The summer evening concert series, held at Wick Recreation Area on the lawn at the Judge Morley Pavilion, runs on select dates through August 14, 2019. All performances are free and family-friendly. For a complete concert schedule, visithttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/visit/things-to-do/concerts/

The Nature Education Standing Committee to the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks will meet on Thursday, May 16, 2019, at 5:30 p.m., in McMahon Hall, at the MetroParks Farm.

The Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation is pleased to announce that The James & Coralie Centofanti Charitable Foundation has contributed $100,000 towards the Ford Nature Center Campaign. This gift will be matched by Sand Hill Foundation for a total of $200,000 in funds towards the $3 million project. Chris Litton, Director of Development for Mill Creek MetroParks expressed his gratefulness for the generous philanthropic support for the center. “This gift will have a tremendous impact on our continued effort to educate generations of children and adults about the wonders of the natural world through the Ford Nature Center.”

The Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation launched the campaign for the renovation of the center in July of 2018. Since then, the foundation has raised over $1 million towards its goal and received the matching challenge grant for every dollar raised up to $1 million from Sand Hill Foundation of Menlo Park, California. The planned upgrades will allow Ford Nature Center to continue to serve as the Mahoning Valley’s primary resource on nature education and provide visitors with more hands-on educational experiences in the outdoors through the use of nature classrooms, learning labs and exhibits. “Our goal in renovating this early 20th century structure to a 21st century learning center is to provide a portal for individuals of all ages and abilities to learn and enjoy the natural space in a very seamless fashion,” says Litton. 

The Board of Directors of The James & Coralie Cenofanti Foundation says, “The foundation is pleased to support The Campaign for the Ford Nature Center to future the mission of our Mill Creek MetroParks. James Centofanti, a recipient of the 2009 Volney Rogers Legacy Award for his support of the Park to preserve land, would be pleased to participate in this campaign.”

Mill Creek MetroParks presents As Did Monet, Artists Paint the Landscape now currently on display in the Weller Gallery at Fellows Riverside Gardens. This exhibit features over 50 works from local artists who paint in the Plein Air style. Plein Air is the French term for open air painting. A cluster of artists may be seen painting in the landscape throughout surrounding counties. They are a meet-up outdoor artist group that originated out of the Davis YMCA art studio. The group has evolved to nearly 80 members. Some favorite places are Mill Creek MetroParks, Beaver Creek State Park, Poland forest, sunflower fields, farms, old villages, apple orchards, ponds, creeks and more.

This free exhibit is being displayed now through June 2, 2019 during normal operating hours of Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Mondays. A Meet the Artist session will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2019 from 1 – 3 pm in the Weller Gallery at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Take this opportunity to meet and visit with these talented, local artists.

For more information on this exhibit and/or the Meet the Artist session, visit or call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330.740.7116.

Construction for the 2019 MetroParks Farm Parking Lot Improvements will begin this Monday, April 15, 2019 and will continue until Friday, April 26, 2019. Construction dates may adjust depending on weather conditions.

Over the duration of construction, public parking will be designated in the gravel lot. The Administration Office, Education Building, Animal Barns, MetroParks Bikeway Trailhead, and Recycling Center will remain open throughout construction. While construction is being completed, please exercise caution when accessing these facilities.

Any questions or concerns may be directed to the MetroParks Administration Office at 330.702.3000.