Outside media coverage of Mill Creek MetroParks

Mill Creek MetroParks opens Springfield Forest Property

Nestled between stunning natural landscapes is where visitors will find Springfield Township’s first Mill creek MetroParks facility.

Park officials say visitors will now have access to an enchanted forest with waterfront views.

” There were no direct opportunities within Springfield Township that were either owned or managed by the MetroParks, so when this opportunity came up, we sprang,” Aaron Young, executive director of Mill Creek MetroParks said.

The property sits on 88.38 acres of land which was acquired by park directors in 2021 through local partnerships with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, and the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation.

Park directors say the new forest property will serve as a haven for nature enthusiasts.

“We have hiking trails for all abilities. We have a fishing pier, picnic area and some neat restoration areas that highlight the native vegetation of Northeast Ohio,” Justin Rogers, director of planning and operations of Mill Creek MetroParks told 21 News.

Directors are hoping to add more hiking trails and expand the picnic area sometime in the future.

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Mill Creek MetroParks opens new local location

People who live in Springfield Township have a new place to experience nature.

Just in time for the holiday weekend, the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation opened a forest property.

The 88-acre site offers hiking trails, a boardwalk, a fishing pier and views of the water.

It’s on Springfield Road just north of the I-76 bridge. This is the first Mill Creek MetroParks area in Springfield Township.

“Parks in general are obviously a benefit to the community. They improve quality of life, getting people out to appreciate natural features,” said Justin Rogers of the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation.

The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund and the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation paid for the improvements to the property.

Read the original article at WKBN.

Mill Creek Metro Parks opens new local location

People who live in Springfield Township have a new place to experience nature.

Just in time for the holiday weekend, Mill Creek Metro Parks Foundation opened a forest property.

The 88 acre site offers hiking trails, a board walk, fishing pier and views of the water.

It’s on Springfield road just north of the I-76 bridge. This is the first Mill Creek Metroparks area in Springfield Township.

“Parks in general are obviously a benefit to the community they improve quality of life getting people out to appreciate natural features,” said Justin Rogers of the Mill Creek Park Foundation.

The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund and the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation paid for the improvements to the property.

Read the original article at WKBN.

Ribbon cutting to mark official opening of forest

A ribbon cutting is set for the end of May marking the official opening of Springfield Forest.

The forest is located on Springfield Road, and the event will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 26.

Improvements were focused on increased access, providing passive recreation opportunities and conducting ecological restoration on the property. Features of Springfield Forest include a new entry drive and 16-car parking lot, aggregate and primitive hiking trails, a fishing pier and boardwalk, scenic vistas, facility signage, a picnic area and 20 acres of ecological restoration.

The 88.38-acre property was acquired in 2021 through a collaborative partnership with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund and the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation.

Funding for property improvements to Springfield Forest was secured through a second, successful Clean Ohio Conservation Fund application with additional financial support provided by the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation and in-kind contributions from Mill Creek MetroParks.

Read the original article at WKBN.

MetroParks announces death of Lanterman’s Mill manager

Mill Creek MetroParks has announced the death of Lanterman’s Mill manager, Greg O’Neal, who on Friday suffered a severe cardiac event while working.

O’Neal was transported to a local hospital where he later died, the park system stated in a news release.

“Greg was a dedicated employee serving as the Lanterman’s Mill manager for nearly 11 years. Greg will long be remembered as a fixture of Lanterman’s Mill where his dedication and passion for the MetroParks will be greatly missed by his colleagues and visitors alike,” the park system stated.

O’Neal, 64, lived in Columbiana.

“Mill Creek MetroParks would like to thank first responders, MetroParks police, and visitors for their quick response and efforts in providing their medical assistance.”

The mill had been closed afterward but will reopen to the public on Wednesday during normal business hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mill Creek Park was established in 1891 by Volney Rogers as the first park district in Ohio. In 1989, the diverse lands now known as Mill Creek MetroParks officially became a metropolitan park district.

Read the original article at The Vindicator.

MetroParks announces passing of Lanterman’s Mill manager

The Mill Creek MetroParks announced that its manager of Lanterman’s Mill has passed away after a medical emergency.

Lanterman’s Mill closed over the weekend after Greg O’Neal suffered a cardiac event Friday while working. He was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away.

O’Neal had worked as the manager of Lanterman’s Mill for nearly 11 years.

The park released the following statement on Monday:

“Greg will long be remembered as a fixture of Lanterman’s Mill where his dedication and passion for the MetroParks will be greatly missed by his colleagues and visitors alike.”

Mill Creek MetroParks also thanked first responders, MetroParks Police and visitors for their quick response and efforts in providing their medical assistance.

Lanterman’s Mill will reopen to the public on Wednesday during the normal business hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Read the original article at WKBN.

Ford Nature Center Reopens

 

 

Watch the original video at WFMJ.

WATCH: Workers rescue painted turtles abandoned at Mill Creek Park’s Lily Pond

Thanks to some hard-working Mill Creek MetroPark workers, several turtles have been rescued from abusive actions that threatened the reptiles’ lives.

Park officials reported on Facebook late last week that someone painted the shells of pet turtles before releasing them into the park’s Lily Pond.

Wildlife experts say turtles use their shells to regulate their body temperature and support their internal organs. Painting a turtle’s shell can disrupt this balance and cause several health problems, such as skin irritation, respiratory issues, and even death in extreme cases.

The chemicals in paint can also be toxic to turtles and can seep into their bodies through their skin, leading to poisoning and other health issues.

In addition, officials note that it is against park regulations to abandon any household pet or any other animal on park district land.

The park’s Natural Resources Manager and two members of the education staff went to work immediately on the tedious process of removing paint from the turtle’s shells.

The park posted a video of the paint removal and the return of the turtles to the pond on Facebook.

Suspicious activity may be reported to the Mill Creek MetroParks Police Office at 330-740-7102.

Read the original article and watch the video at WFMJ.

Ford Nature Center reopens after 3 years of work

After three years of being closed for a redevelopment project, the Ford Nature Center is back open.

It reopened on April 22.

The project was designed to improve, enhance and expand the Ford Nature Center in order to better serve the community’s nature education needs.

New features in the building include a nature exhibit hall, a history room and a bird observation room.

“It’s a wonderful asset for the community, the public at large that comes and learns about the native wildlife and habitat within Mill Creek MetroParks,” said Justin Rogers, director of planning and operations.

The center is free and open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can learn more about what it has to offer by visiting the Ford Nature Center website.

Read the original article at WYTV.

Nature’s beauty shines at Ford Nature Center in Youngstown

It was love at first sight when I visited Mill Creek Park for the first time. An active lifestyle led my husband and me to the park. We used the roads and trails as training for running and cycling. Then we realized there was far more to the park and began exploring more with our children.

Many children in the area, mine included, experienced Ford Nature Center on an educational field trip. My kids loved the nature center so much, we continued to visit as a family.

At the beginning of 2020, Ford Nature Center closed for renovations that would take many years and a large budget to complete. After a three-year and $4 million renovation project was completed, the Ford Nature Center reopened to the public on Earth Day, April 22.

The project had several goals, including preserving the historic and physical attributes of the manor house built in 1913. I have always admired the architecture of Youngstown. However, I didn’t realize the artistic vision featured in most of the buildings came from the same family.

Architectural masterminds
A father and son duo, Charles Henry Owsley and Charles Frederick Owsley were the masterminds behind many of the stately architectural masterpieces in Youngstown. Charles H. Owsley designed the Strouss-Hirshberg building on West Federal Street and the Dollar Bank Building on the central square, along with many other buildings in Youngstown and Warren built in the late 1800s and into the turn of the century.

His son, Charles F. Owsley, followed in his footsteps becoming an architect after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1903 where he studied architecture in their prestigious program. The Owsley architecture firm left its biggest imprint on the city of Youngstown with the design of the Mahoning County Courthouse.

At the time, Youngstown was one of the leading steel-producing centers in the country. The large tax base provided for a new and modern courthouse. The building was dedicated in 1907.

Manor house
A few years later, Charles F. Owsley was commissioned for another project. He was to build a residence for C.S. Robinson, an executive at Youngstown Sheet & Tube. It was quite a shift from institutional buildings, but a challenge as well.

The first-class manor house was to be built on land that backed up to Mill Creek Park. The design of the house must allow it to blend into the natural setting. The natural beauty of the park and the building itself were to be cohesive and balanced, accentuating each other.

The pristine park setting combined with the gorgeous manor house were the perfect home environment for the Robinson family. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson lived in their home for about 40 years until they passed.

Gifted to park
The home was then purchased by Judge John W. Ford who did his part to cherish and care for the home and the grounds. Upon his passing in 1968, the home and property were donated by his children to Mill Creek Park.

The Park commissioners transitioned the house into a nature museum, a place for young and old to learn and grow in knowledge about the natural elements of the park. Children were also able to learn about the creatures who called Mill Creek Park home. The nature center quickly became a gathering space for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers.

Another goal of recent renovations was to enable further educational opportunities at the location. Expansion and reconfiguration of the interior spaces created space for educational opportunities and interactive exhibits. Improvements to the interior space also made it accessible for all people. Outside learning spaces were added where students can be immersed in nature.

When my son and I visited the Ford Nature Center for the first time after renovations, we did spend some time inside exploring the displays and bird-watching in the bird observation room. However, we spent most of our time outside.

Stunning

Walking up the steps from the parking lot, we noticed the rooftop garden. Looking at the native species in the lush garden, we could also see the native wildflower meadow stretching out below us on the property. Sedges, alliums and bulbs in the rooftop garden will attract pollinators while simultaneously absorbing rainwater and reducing stormwater runoff. We sat for a few minutes in the rocking chairs, enjoying the soft breeze and listening to the birds at the birdfeeders.

We started exploring the grounds by taking the Axtman Trail for All People. The 0.1-mile paved trail weaves through the wooded habitat surrounding the nature center. We passed by Virginia bluebells as we enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine filtering through the freshly opened leaf canopy above us. I can’t emphasize it enough — the property is stunning.

Halfway along the trail, we meandered off the paved trail further into the woods. Ramps and garlic mustard were growing among fallen branches and leaf debris. Like most kids when they reach wide-open spaces, my son was off balancing on rocks, tree stumps and decomposing trees.

As I stood in the middle of the forest with the stately Ford Nature Center behind me, I couldn’t help but think, “I can’t believe this is Youngstown.”

With a soft breeze blowing through the valley and a bluejay darting from tree to tree, I realized nature and nature education is the heart of Youngstown, where the past is preserved, the present is enjoyed and the future is bright.

Read the original article at Farm and Dairy.