Among the fun things to do in the Wick Recreation Area off McCollum Road in the Mill Creek MetroParks, people would probably list as their favorites walking, using the wet and dry playgrounds, tennis, baseball and soccer areas, batting cages and Par-3 golf.

But next to the colorful Dek hockey rink is a dark, generally ignored building people still call the “warming house” or ice-rink building.

It played a key role when the Wick Recreation Area’s ice rink was next door, providing a fireplace and spot to warm up and get a hot drink.

The ice rink closed around 2002, and the building was converted into a storage space for grass cutting and other equipment.

In 2018, the MetroParks built the Dek hockey rink over the former ice rink, providing the public with a space to play a variation of ice hockey in which the game is played using a ball. Other sports also are played there, including soccer and field hockey.

The MetroParks’ master plan, however, targeted the warming house to be a public recreation center.

The park district went out to bid this month to have a contractor brighten up the building and make other aesthetic and functional changes to the 4,000 square foot structure to turn it into a banquet facility, offices, restrooms and meeting place.

Examples of ways the meeting space might be used for the public is for signups for recreational sports leagues, noted Justin Rogers, planning and operations director for the MetroParks.

The MetroParks built a new storage and maintenance building last year below the Morley Performing Arts Pavilion and is now using it.

The cost to renovate the warming house is $775,000, and the MetroParks hopes to award a contract at the May 10 meeting.

“We’re creating more of a public facility that supports all of the recreational and programatic uses at Wick Recreation Area and provides new opportunities for recreation and rentals,” Rogers said of the former warming house.

“We’re creating a banquet facility, a larger rentable space, improved concessions, a retail space, upgraded restrooms. We will have equipment and apparel for tennis, golf and sand volleyball and Dek hockey, similar to what you would have at the pro shop at our golf course but on a smaller scale,” he said. Mill Creek has two 18-hole golf courses.

“Our recreation department offices will be located in this building and some improved site work, new pedestrian access and landscaping,” he said.

It will have all new utilities, all new finishes inside and a brighter look.

“It will not get bigger. There is a small section for some restrooms, but the site plan is pretty much staying the same,” he said. “This will open it up to four season, year-round use for the public,” Rogers said.

The upgrades should tie the former warming house back into the fun activities that surround the building.

“It’s kind of prime real estate,” Rogers said of the building. “It’s right there and has been completely underutilized. Making it more inviting aesthetically and certainly its functionality is going to bring back the promise it once was when it was the warming house,” he said.

Full article at vindy.com

Many places within Mill Creek MetroParks reopened this week, as activities are being phased in with virus safety protocols.

Aligning with national, state and local health orders, all outdoor-based recreation facilities, education programs, recreation leagues and events are now open.

“We’ve been monitoring our potential reopening for some time,” MetroParks Executive Director Aaron Young said, adding the status of vaccinations has been taken into consideration as park administration decided how to reopen the park.

The next round of openings will take place May 1, when all open-air shelters open for reservations.

On May 7, all indoor-related rental facilities, as well as indoor-based education and recreation programs and events, will open. These locations are the MetroParks Farm Education Building, D.D. & Velma Davis Education and Visitors Center, Yellow Creek Lodge, the administration office and Lanterman’s Mill.

SPORTS

On April 1, the North Course at Mill Creek Golf Course reopened, with the South Course following on April 5.

Also at the start of April, the James L. Wick Jr. Recreation Par-3 Golf Course and batting cages in Youngstown opened, along with tennis courts and sand volleyball courts at the Wick Recreation Area.

The phased approach this year was staggered between indoor and outdoor activities, Young said.

Over the course of the last year, many outdoor activities have continued with varying guidelines, while many indoor activities have been canceled.

“We thought if that’s what the governor’s orders are outlined and structured on, and the department of health is recommending outdoor activity is OK, then a systematic reopening plan would take place,” Young said.

OPEN AIR

Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, outdoor use of the park system has “skyrocketed,” Young said, carrying into 2021.

“Our evaluation of what we think is the best approach, which is the phased approach, is people are outside. Let’s take a look at our outdoor recreational facilities and then also some of the open-air pavilions,” Young said.

Last year, any reservable and rental property in the park was closed due to the pandemic, as well as any indoor or outdoor facilities. Trails were left open.

“We thought it was best to address an outdoor versus an indoor (facility) right away,” Young said.

Normal schedules of pavilions typically open on May 1, so the park is carrying on pre-pandemic routines handling reservations.

As park facilities open, it is important that people renting the spaces remember they are responsible for their guests. Still, law enforcement will be around patroling as normal.

Rental procedures and program information can be found at reservations.millcreekmetroparks.org .

afox@vindy.com

Full article at vindy.com

Mill Creek MetroParks is beginning a phased reopening of programs, events and facility rentals in accordance with local, state and federal orders and guidelines.

All outdoor recreation facilities, education programs, recreation leagues and/or events are open to the public beginning today. All open-air shelters will be open for reservations on their normal seasonal schedule beginning May 1, as well as visitation to the MetroParks Farm animal barns.

All indoor rental facilities, as well as all indoor education and recreation programs and events, will begin to open to the public May 7.

Visitors will be required to follow the current orders and recommended guidelines regarding mask wearing, social distancing and capacity limitations.

The following Mill Creek MetroParks locations will be open to the public effective May 7:

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

Various Mill Creek MetroParks outdoor locations are currently open and available for use, including Mill Creek Park, Fellows Riverside Gardens, Sebring Woods, The MetroParks Bikeway, Mill Creek Golf Course, Wick Par-3, MetroParks Farm Disc Golf Course and all nature preserves and sanctuaries.

Full article at mahoningmatters.com

It was quiet Monday night outside the Davis Center at Mill Creek MetroParks. The displays in the gift shop are still covered with sheets. But come May 7, the Davis Center, along with Lanterman’s Mill and Pioneer Pavilion, will be open again for visitors.

The Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Commissioners Monday voted unanimously to reopen all facilities that have been closed because of COVID-19.

“All users will be required to follow the current orders of the governor,” said Executive Director Aaron Young.

Young said all rental agreements will include language stating that renters would be responsible for meeting any COVID requirements.

“I don’t want to become the mask police and the six-foot apart police. I already went through that,” Young said.

The boat docks at Lakes Newport and Glacier are permitted to reopen Tuesday, but they won’t be ready yet.

On May 1, the Slippery Rock Pavilion and the park’s other open-air shelters will be allowed to reopen.

As far as the concerts and Morely Pavilion, it was not mentioned specifically if they would or would not return, Young seemed more concerned about indoor events than those outdoors.

“I think it’s incumbent upon the person having the event to identify what their comfort level is before they solicit patrons or visitors for that event,” Young said.

As far as reopening the outdoor cafe at the Davis Center, which was being operated by Kravitz Deli, Young says that will likely happen eventually.

Here is a breakdown of the re-opening timeline:

• It will be a phased-in reopening with everything open by May 7.
• The reopening will begin Tuesday, April 13 – all outdoor-based recreational facilities, outdoor education programs, rec leagues and events will be allowed effective Tuesday.
• May 1 – all open-air shelters can be used and visitation resumes at MetroParks Farm animal barns
• May 7 – Indoor facilities reopen with limited restrictions, this includes those used for rentals, education and recreation, and the following: MetroParks Farm Education Building, D.D. & Velma Davis Education and Visitors Center, all reservable indoor cabins & shelters, Yellow Creek Lodge, Administration Office, Lanterman’s Mill

Full article at wkbn.com