OUTSIDE MEDIA COVERAGE OF MILL CREEK METROPARKS

Controlled deer hunting returning to Mill Creek MetroParks

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Controlled deer hunting is entering its fourth season despite continued vocal opposition.

The hunting is part of an effort to manage the amount of white-tailed deer in Mill Creek MetroParks.

Controlled archery hunting starts Sunday, September 27, and will run through November 21.

The hunts will take place in nine different locations: Collier Preserve, Hawkins Marsh, Huntington Woods, MetroParks Farm, George L. Fordyce Park East and West, Sawmill Creek Preserve, Springfield Forest, Vickers Nature Preserve and Hitchcock Woods.

The hunt will be extended to December 26 at Hitchcock Woods and Huntington Woods.

Controlled hunts at the MetroParks started in 2023. While the practice has prompted fierce opposition, the park’s natural resources manager said it’s working.

“We want to look at more than just the number of deer that were harvested. So we do a variety of surveys, such as a trail camera survey, drone survey and we also look at the effects of deer browsing on forest regeneration. So we have seen some encouraging results,” said Rachel Sobnosky, Mill Creek MetroParks Natural Resources Manager. “We have seen some success when it comes to forest regeneration and new seedlings popping up, there are still some pretty distinct browse lines in the forest. But, it looks like those are starting to get a little bit better.”

Throughout the three years of controlled hunting at Mill Creek MetroParks, nearly 400 deer have been killed. The number of deer being harvested each year is decreasing.

“Over the last three years, we have seen a reduction each year in the total number of deer harvested. So we do see encouraging results, and we do a number of different surveys to look at deer population as well as impacts to the habitat,” said Sobnosky.

The selected hunters can harvest up to nine white-tailed deer. Each hunter is required to have a permit by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and can bring one partner per day.

Mill Creek MetroParks has two pages of rules and regulations that need to be followed, which prohibits baiting and trail cameras.

“All hunters have to have a hunting license through Division of Wildlife, so they’ve all gone through a hunter safety course, and they’re all adhering to the rules. Anytime any rules are broken, we do get police as well as Division of Wildlife involved to enforce those rules,” said Sobnosky.

Archery hunting cannot be done in “No Hunting Zones” or within 100-feet of a walking trail to ensure public safety.

“All of the facilities that are participating in this hunt will remain open to the public. We just want the public to be aware that it’s going on,” said Sobnosky. “We also want people to know that it’s safe to continue using these facilities during the hunting program.”

While the areas are open to the public, signage will be posted at parking lot entrances to notify visitors of the hunt.

Gun hunts will take place at Collier Preserve, Hawkins Marsh, George L. Fordyce Park East and West, Sawmill Creek Preserve, Springfield Forest and Vickers Nature Preserve.

The gun hunts will be during every weekend starting November 28, and ending December 27. Properties will be closed to the public during gun hunts.

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Construction continues at Vickers Nature Preserve, lodge opening date unclear

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Roughly eight months after Mill Creek Metroparks announced capital improvements, including a new lodge at Vickers Nature Preserve, work is well underway.

The lodge is intended to function similarly to other Mill Creek facilities, offering private rentals for equestrian programs or events plus any Metroparks educational programming.

In March, Mill Creek Metroparks posted a look at the lodge’s progress on Facebook, offering a sneak peek at the facility.

According to officials at Mill Creek, current site work at Vickers Nature Preserve includes soil grading, landscaping preparations, paving work and finalizing utility services for the lodge.

No opening date or official timeline for the end of the project has been announced just yet but 21 News is told that Mill Creek will have a better idea of a solid completion date in roughly a month.

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Archery hunting to begin at multiple MetroParks locations

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The ongoing White-tailed Deer Management Program of the Mill Creek MetroParks will continue for another year starting on Sunday.

The MetroPark controlled archery hunt will begin this Sunday, Sept. 27. The hunt is conducted through a lottery system and will take place in nine areas of the MetroParks.

The program is part of the ongoing effort to balance the deer population with the health of the parks’ natural areas.

Archery hunting ends Nov. 21, except in Hitchcock and Huntington Woods, where it ends Dec. 26.

All areas will remain open to the public — signage will be posted to alert visitors of ongoing hunting.

The following areas are designated for hunting:

  • Collier Preserve
  • Hawkins Marsh
  • Hitchcock Woods
  • Huntington Woods
  • MetroParks Farm
  • George L. Fordyce Park East and West (formerly the Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary)
  • Sawmill Creek Preserve
  • Springfield Forest
  • Vickers Nature Preserve

For more information about the MetroParks’ White-tailed Deer Management Program, visit the MetroParks website.

 

Read the original article at WKBN.

Cross country meet to temporarily close bike trail

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A portion of the Mill Creek MetroParks bike trail will be closed Tuesday afternoon for the Gorby Family Championship Cross Country middle and high school meet.

The trail will be closed beginning at 3 p.m. between U.S. Route 446 and Leffingwell Road, along the Farm Spur Trail. Visitors are asked to avoid parking at the MetroParks Farm during that time as well.

The trail will reopen Tuesday evening when the event concludes.

Officials encourage you to access the bikeway at other trailhead and spur trail locations during the closure.

 

Read the original article at WKBN.

Mill Creek Golf Course could reopen by mid-October

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During the Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday, September 14, the timeline for reopening the Mill Creek MetroParks Golf Course was discussed.

The golf course has been closed since July, after a storm tore through the Valley region, leaving behind debris and damage.

At the time, Aaron Young, the executive director of Mill Creek MetroParks, told 21 News that the course had been flooded and trees had fallen across much of the course, including one fallen tree that destroyed one of the property’s golf carts.

Young maintained a positive attitude surrounding the cleanup, hoping that the course would be reopening before the end of the regular golf season, or by Thanksgiving.

Now, Young has changed that prediction to almost a month and a half prior to the original estimate.

“We’re pleased with our current progress, and our hope is to have West Golf Drive and the North Course of the MetroParks Golf Course open by mid-October,” said Young.

Young says that crews have been working daily since July 5 to repair the damage done by the storm, whether that damage was to buildings, tees or other areas of the course.

“It’s been going expeditiously. Everything is open currently with the exception of West Golf Drive and the golf course, so we’re pleased with our progress,” said Young.

Young also took the time to discuss the White-tailed Deer Management Plan as the fall season begins.

He says that the plans for deer management haven’t changed and that the Board expects to implement it again to help aid in “the betterment of the MetroParks.”

That controlled and targeted removal, Young says, will go on in the section of the park between Shields Road and U.S. Route 224.

 

 

Read the original at WFMJ.

Mill Creek Bikeway closes for improvements, resurfacing

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A section of the Mill Creek MetroParks Bikeway will be closed to allow for work to be conducted.

According to a news release, the closure begins on Monday, September 14, and will continue for approximately one week, depending on the weather.

The closure will impact the Bikeway from Silica Road to County Line Road, as well as access to the Bikeway at Ohltown Road and Webb Road.

The reason for the closure is to allow for a maintenance and enhancement project that includes:

  • Milling of the existing asphalt surface
  • Installing new asphalt
  • Adding topsoil along the shoulders of the trail
  • Installing compacted aggregate along the shoulders, which is essentially compacted gravel

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Smythe Island, Davies Wetland Trail reopen at Mill Creek Park

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After nearly two months of cleanup from severe weather, two Mill Creek Park landmarks have reopened to the public.

Smythe Island and the Davies Wetland Trail at Newport Wetlands have reopened to the public as of Tuesday, September 1, according to a post on Mill Creek Metroparks’ Facebook page.

These sections closed to the public following severe weather, including an EF-1 tornado, that impacted parts of Mahoning County, including Austintown, Boardman and Canfield Township.

In the weeks following, Metroparks staff worked to clean up fallen and damaged trees that impacted the island, picnic areas and trails in the Newport Wetlands area.

This marks the end of storm cleanup in the park north of Shields Road.

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.

East Golf Hike & Bike Trail reopens after July 5 cleanup

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he Mill Creek MetroParks took to its Facebook page on Monday, August 24, to announce that the East Golf Hike & Bike Trail has reopened to the public.

The announcement comes nearly two months after the July 5 storm that left behind extensive damage to the Canfield, Boardman and Austintown regions.

On July 5, an EF1 tornado and macroburst swept over the region, leaving behind downed trees, wires and some damage to homes, property or vehicles.

One of the Valley staples damaged by the storm included portions of the Mill Creek MetroParks.

As of Monday, the East Golf Hike & Bike Trail is reopened for public use, with trees and other damage cleaned up on the hike and bike trail, parking lots, picnic areas and connecting neighborhood trails between U.S. Route 224 and Shields Road.

lthough the hike and bike trail is reopened, there are still several areas of the park that are closed to the public, including:

  • The Fording Bridge spur trail
  • West Golf Drive
  • Mill Creek Golf Course

Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists are not permitted in these areas until further notice.

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Mill Creek hike & bike trail reopens after storm damage closure

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The East Golf Hike & Bike Trail has reopened after the July 5 tornado and macroburst, though other areas of the MetroPark remain closed as work continues.

According to a release from Mill Creek MetroParks, crews have worked “diligently” to address fallen and damaged trees that impacted the hike and bike trail, parking lots, picnic areas and connecting neighborhood trails between U.S. Route 224 and Shields Road.

The Fording Bridge (overflow lot) spur trail, West Golf Drive and the Mill Creek Golf Course remain closed to all park patrons until further notice.

“Please respect the posted closure signage for your safety and the safety of others,” the MetroParks stated in the update.

 

Read the original article at WKBN.

Slow and steady work at Mill Creek Park ensures safe reopening

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Mill Creek MetroParks had a big job ahead after storms rolled through the Valley on July 5 and spawned a tornado. Most of the park has been closed as the cleanup continues.

“It’s just really devastating when you show up and see the devastation, and just 2-3 blocks away there’s nothing. No problems whatsoever, said Executive Director Aaron Young.

Related stories:

  • Debris removal continues in Mahoning County
  • Crews wrapping up week 1 of storm cleanup, 1 more week to go
  • Mahoning County begins massive storm debris cleanup

Young says the job included cutting a way into the park, and now it’s trying to cut a way through the park. The methodical approach has included handling what can be handled. The Metroparks has teams and has hired others to do the job.

“Obviously, the East Golf Hike Trail, you’ve got a very linear path that cuts through from north to south. That’s a much different environment to clean up than a golf course, which is manicured throughout,” Young said.

There’s a chance the East Golf Hike and Bike Trail could open by the end of the week, making a recreational opportunity available again. Golfers will have to be very patient. Splintered and fallen trees still need to be cleared off the 36 holes.

“There were a little over 100 on the North Course. We just quite frankly stopped counting on the South Course when we reached 300. There is much more than that. It’s going to be a changed experience for sure,” Young said.

The MetroParks board has avoided putting time frames on reopening many areas, but says they will stay in place while the work continues.

“They are being very diligent in what they’re doing to ensure everyone’s safety, and they know the task at hand is a large one, but they’re committed to doing it,” Young said.

Young says it was easy to be overwhelmed after seeing the devastation on July 5 after the storm, but that feeling ended the next morning when everyone was ready to get started on the work to clean up the park.

 

Read the original article at WKBN.