A man and his two friends were cited for walking through a “road closed” barrier in Mill Creek Park on Sunday.

Youngstown’s Brett Wilson said they were walking through the southern barrier of the closed stretch of Mill Creek Park’s E. Newport Drive. It came with a $150 fine — $70 in court costs.

“I do think the ticket was unfair because clearly there is an opening for pedestrians or bicyclists. There’s plenty of them going through there,” Wilson said.

Back at the spot Tuesday afternoon, there was an opening to pass through with the sign prohibiting pedestrians and bicycles lying on the ground. Mill Creek Park Police Chief Jim Willock had to put the sign and some of the barriers back up.

“Yeah, they’ve taken the signs down and they’ve taken the barricades down,” Chief Willock said.

People have been using the prohibited area, not listening to police or the signs.

The safety issue is a road that’s slowly collapsing. What started as a small pothole in April has grown to 10 times that, and continues to grow. It looks like the aftermath of an earthquake.

“Right now, while it may look safe, in two days, it may not be safe. If someone comes down through here on a bike or something like that, they may become injured,” Chief Willock said.

At the northern barrier, there are road closed signs but nothing saying pedestrians and bicyclists are prohibited.

“Aside from that, there probably should be something that says violators will be prosecuted or fined because we weren’t warned at all,” Wilson said.

Wilson also said he might take the issue to the courts in Boardman to fight the citation.

Chief Willock says they spent several weeks warning people.

“So we’ve started issuing some citations and apparently we’ve got people’s attention and that’s getting the desired effect for their safety,” Chief Willock said.

A Mill Creek official says it is unlikely the road will be repaired this year.

Full article at wkbn.com

In support of the recommendations from the Governor’s office, the Ohio Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control, Mill Creek Park is extending the cancellations of all previously scheduled programs, tours, events, lectures and indoor facility rental until the January 2021 board meeting scheduled for January 11, 2021.

The extended cancellations and closures is in regard to the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus and to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, volunteers and visitors.

In the event a registration fee or rental fee was paid, a full refund will be processed.

The following Mill Creek MetroParks locations will be closed to the public through January 11,2021:

• MetroParks Farm Education Building and Animal Barns (seasonal)
• D.D. & Velma Davis Education and Visitors Center
• All Reservable Pavilions, Cabins & Shelters
• Yellow Creek Lodge
• Lanterman’s Mill (seasonal)
• Administration Office
• Wet Playground at Wick Recreation Area and Spray Basin at Scholl Recreation Area (seasonal)
• Lake Newport & Lake Glacier Boathouses (seasonal)

Various Mill Creek MetroParks outdoor locations will 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
• All Nature Preserves and Sanctuaries

The MetroParks urges all visitors to continue following all guidelines from state and local health officials, such as staying home if sick or exhibiting symptoms, maintaining at least six feet apart from other visitors, avoiding congregating in large groups and bypass busy areas, practicing good hygiene by washing hands often and carrying hand sanitizer, as well as suggesting non-use of items such as handrails, park benches and other areas frequently touched to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Full article at wkbn.com

Mill Creek MetroParks is extending the cancellation of all previously scheduled programs, tours, events, lectures and indoor facility rentals until the Jan. 11, 2021, board meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

The following MetroParks locations will be closed to the public through January 11:

• MetroParks Farm Education Building and animal barns (seasonal);
• D.D. & Velma Davis Education and Visitors Center;
• All reservable pavilions, cabins and shelters;
• Yellow Creek Lodge;
• Lanterman’s Mill (seasonal);
• Administration Office;
• Wet playground at Wick Recreation Area and spray basin at Scholl Recreation Area (seasonal);
• Lake Newport and Lake Glacier boathouses (seasonal).

Various Mill Creek MetroParks 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 visitors to continue following all guidelines from state and local health officials, such as staying home if sick or exhibiting symptoms, maintaining at least 6 feet apart from other visitors, avoiding congregating in large groups and bypassing busy areas, practicing good hygiene by washing hands often and carrying hand sanitizer. Visitors also are urged not to use handrails and park benches, and to avoid other areas that are frequently touched.

Full article at mahoningmatters.com

YOUNGSTOWN — Mill Creek MetroParks has canceled all scheduled programs, tours, events, lectures and indoor facility rentals until January 2021.

The shutdown is in response to COVID-19, a park official announced Tuesday.

In addition to the cancellations, locations throughout the park system also will be closed through Jan. 11, 2021, which is the park’s scheduled board meeting for that month.

The decisions were made during the board of trustees’ regular meeting Monday, Aaron Young, executive director said.

Influencing the park trustees’ decisions was guidance from the governor’s office and the Mahoning County Board of Health.

“After consultation with them … it became apparent that the best move to make to protect the health, safety and general welfare of not just visitors but MetroPark staff as well, was to recommend that the closures remain the rest of the year,” Young explained.

Those closed locations are MetroParks Farm Education Building and animal barns; D.D. and Velma Davis Education and Visitors Center; all reservable pavilions, cabins and shelters; Yellow Creek Lodge; Lanterman’s Mill; the administration office; the wet playground at Wick Recreation Area and spray basin at Scholl Recreation Area; and Lake Newport and Lake Glacier boathouses.

“The MetroParks is really a platform for mass gatherings of which is not recommended right now,” Young said, adding that’s why the indoor facilities and places with high-contact surfaces will remain closed.

In the event a registration fee or rental fee was paid, a full refund will be processed, according to the park district’s website.

Some outdoor locations will remain open. They are 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.

“There are still 47 miles of trail, the metroparks bikeway, the golf course, par-3, all of the athletic fields are open. … Exterior recreation opportunities are still a plenty,” Young said.

Large groups are encouraged not to congregate at the park, and social distancing is strongly urged. Park officials also are advising that those in the park do not use handrails, park benches and other highly used areas to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Decisions for 2021 will be made in January, Young said.

“We usually start our following year planning in the third quarter,” Young said. “We’re going to do like what we’ve done in 2020.”

Closures will remain in place until certain dates, and as those dates approach, the board will decide whether to extend those closures and cancellations or lift them, Young explained.

Full article at vindy.com