Tens of thousands of readers must have perused The Vindicator’s Nov. 23 front-page story detailing the importance of endowments that help fund noteworthy Mill Creek MetroParks icons, assisting in their upkeep and even their existence.

“Icons abound while driving through Mill Creek MetroParks,” read the lead of the story, written by Vindicator reporter Ashley Fox. It went on to outline some recognizable examples: the lily pond, the covered bridge at Lanterman’s Mill and the silver suspension bridge, also known as the Cinderella Bridge.

To help give more than 15 so-called icons around the park official names, Chris Litton, development director, had helped organize an endowment program.

“Endowments can take in any dollar amount,” Litton said in the story. “That dollar amount stays whole in perpetuity.”

Large-dollar gifts, such as $250,000 and above, even can bring naming opportunities.

These dollars go into a general endowment fund, which would finish capital improvements at Ford Nature Center, Litton said in the story.

The article probably was interesting and informative for many readers who saw it. But apparently it resonated with one area resident a bit more than it did with many others.

Explaining the idea originated from The Vindicator story, a Mahoning Valley resident last week wrote a check for $750,000. The funds will go into a general endowment fund and help finish capital improvements at Ford Nature Center, first gifted to the park in 1968 and opened as headquarters for nature education in 1974. The gift is unrestricted, so it can be used for any purpose.

A portion of the funding will help complete the financing for the Ford Nature Center Redevelopment Project, a revitalization project with a price tag of some $3.5 million. The rest will be disbursed where necessary, such as being set aside in the endowment fund, which will help maintain and preserve areas throughout the park.

“The gift does allow us to complete the Ford Nature project,” Litton said, noting now the project will be financially sound one year ahead of schedule.

Endowments, Litton explained, are growing in popularity because the money stays whole and will always be there to take care of the park.

Indeed we salute any donor who gives from the heart because he / she understands the value of preserving the park and its beauty in perpetuity. This particular donation is especially noteworthy, however. That’s because the donor didn’t do it for recognition or for posterity.

We know this because the donor has been adamant about remaining anonymous.

That tells us the donor did it because he or she believes maintaining Mill Creek Park and the Ford Nature Center is the right thing to do.

For that, we salute the anonymous donor. While his or her name shall remain a secret, the good deed must not. Rather, it should be celebrated and enjoyed by countless park and nature center visitors for many, many years to come.

Full article at vindy.com

Mill Creek MetroParks has received what’s being called a “transformational” gift.

An anonymous Mahoning Valley donor has gifted the park $750,000, said Chris Litton, development director.

“It is transformational from the standpoint of what it allows us to do in 2021,” Litton said.

What prompted the large gift was a Nov. 23, 2020, article in The Vindicator, explaining an endowment program set up at the MetroParks by Litton. “It’s a story the public needed to know. It’s their park,” he said.

The donor prefers to stay behind the scenes.

Across the board, everyone at the park system is thankful for the gift.

“We are truly grateful for the generous contributions of those who truly appreciate and support the mission of the MetroParks and its impact on Mahoning County,” said Executive Director Aaron Young.

The donor’s financial planner reached out to the park, stating the person wished to make a donation to the MetroParks Foundation.

The gift is unrestricted, which means it is given for any purpose, Litton said.

A portion of the funding will help complete the financing for the Ford Nature Center Redevelopment Project, a revitalization project with a pricetag of some $3.5 million.

The rest will be disbursed where necessary, such as being set aside in the endowment fund, which will help maintain and preserve areas throughout the park.

“The gift does allow us to complete the Ford Nature project,” Litton said, noting that now the project will be financially sound one year ahead of schedule.

“We had budgeted taking in campaign funds throughout 2021 to fund that campaign,” which will continue, Litton said.

Any money generated above the project cost will alleviate taxpayers funding, Litton said.

“It’s a situation where we didn’t expect to be a year ahead of fundraising,” he said.

Usually, financial gifts to the park may result in naming opportunities. There are more than 15 “icons” around the park that do not have a family name attached to them, such as the popular silver suspension bridge, also known as the Cinderella Bridge.

Contributions to endowment programs, such as that at Mill Creek Park, stay whole in perpetuity.

Work on the stone mansion that is the nature center, which was built in 1913, is being completed in phases with an anticipated finish date in the spring or summer of 2022.

The house was donated to the park in 1968 and in 1974 opened as the headquarters for nature education.

Full article at vindy.com

Mill Creek MetroParks is extending the cancellations of all previously scheduled programs, tours, events, lectures and indoor facility rentals until a board meeting scheduled for April 12, 2021.

If a registration or rental fee was paid, a full refund will be processed.

The following Mill Creek MetroParks locations will remain closed:

• MetroParks Farm Education Building and animal barns;
• D.D. & Velma Davis Education and Visitors Center;
• All reservable pavilions, cabins and shelters;
• Yellow Creek Lodge;
• Lanterman’s Mill;
• Administration office.

Various outdoor locations will be remain open and available for use, including Mill Creek Park, Fellows Riverside Gardens, Sebring Woods, the MetroParks Bikeway, Mill Creek Golf Course (seasonal), Wick Par-3 (seasonal), MetroParks Farm Disc Golf Course and all nature preserves and sanctuaries.

The MetroParks urges all visitors to continue following all guidelines from state and local health officials to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Full article at mahoningmatters.com

A thin layer of snow was all kids needed for some sled riding at Mill Creek Park on Wednesday.

Our cameras found several families enjoying the cool temperatures.

A lot of the kids we talked to said they liked to go fast.

“The conditions, they are pretty rocky. There are so many divots in the ground and then there’s snow, which speeds you up so you go flying right over those divots,” said 9-year-old Abby Hagler.

The kids said the hill was a little bit muddy, too, but they like to get out to sled a couple of times every year.

Right now, the sled riding hill is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the lights are turned on at dusk.

Full article at wkbn.com

The Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Commissioners met Monday night and learned there’s some money coming for a new building. They also had some good news for kayakers.

The board approved a request from executive director Aaron Young to accept a $100,000 donation from Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens for the future construction of an outdoor education building in the family garden at Fellows.

The money is the last portion needed to get the building constructed. The total cost of the project is over $300,000. The rest of the money is in place.

It’s hoped construction can begin in the spring and the building finished sometime next summer.

It’ll be built for year-round use and will be used for many purposes including gardening classes and other programs.

The board also learned that a second set of kayak racks have been added to Lake Glacier, which will hold 16 kayaks. The other set is at Lake Newport, which holds 40 kayaks.

Recreation director Brian Tolnar says the Newport racks have a waiting list to rent spaces, adding that the pandemic has increased the number of people kayaking on the park’s lakes.

The racks rent for $25 for a season or $35 for two racks.

Full article at wkbn.com