OUTSIDE MEDIA COVERAGE OF MILL CREEK METROPARKS

Mill Creek Parks farm lot closing for construction

Construction for the 2019 MetroParks farm parking lot will begin on Monday, April 15 through Friday, April 26. 

During the time period, the lot will be closed, public parking will be designated in the gravel lot. 

The administration office, education building, animal barns, MetroParks bikeway trailhead, and recycling center will remain open throughout construction. 

While construction is being completed, park administration is asking visitors to be cautious while accessing these facilities. 

If anyone has questions or concerns call the MetroParks Administration Office at (330)-702-3000. 

View the full article at wfmj.com

Mill Creek MetroParks road closures

The following roads in Mill Creek MetroParks will be closed to vehicular traffic as well as cyclists and pedestrians from approximately 6:30 a.m. until Noon on Sunday, April 14, 2019 for the Run Y-town 10 Mile Run:

• Old Mill Drive

• Kreider’s Entrance

• West Newport Drive

• East Newport Drive

• Chestnut Hill Drive

View full article at vindy.com

Mill Creek Parks farm lot closing for construction

Construction for the 2019 MetroParks farm parking lot will begin on Monday, April 15 through Friday, April 26. 

During the time period, the lot will be closed, public parking will be designated in the gravel lot. 

The administration office, education building, animal barns, MetroParks bikeway trailhead, and recycling center will remain open throughout construction. 

While construction is being completed, park administration is asking visitors to be cautious while accessing these facilities. 

If anyone has questions or concerns call the MetroParks Administration Office at (330)-702-3000. 

View the full article at wfmj.com

Mill Creek Park police officers recognized for life-saving actions

Several Mill Creek Park police officers were honored at a board meeting Monday night for their life-saving actions.

Mill Creek Policeman Nathan White was honored for taking a convulsing woman to the hospital.

Her Epipen wouldn’t work and she was in anaphylactic shock, so White called 911. They said it would be a while before an ambulance could get there, so he took her to the hospital himself.

The hospital staff said without his action, the woman would not have survived.

Five other officers were also honored for giving naloxone to a woman who was overdosing in the Idora neighborhood near the park.

Those officers were Alex Wharry, James Shirilla, Christian Hunter, Bryce Lapierre and Sgt. Robert Vukovich.

View the full article at wytv.com

Mill Creek Police Officer recognized for saving woman’s life

A Mill Creek Park police officer was recognized for his heroic actions during a community meeting tonight.

Nathan White was on duty last weekend when a woman approached him and said she couldn’t breathe and was going into anaphylactic shock.

White called emergency medical personnel but the wait time was too long.

The woman’s EpiPen was not working at the time.

Officer White believed the woman wouldn’t make it if they waited for EMS.

White put her in his cruiser and took her to St. Elizabeth’s himself.

Doctors at St. Elizabeth’s say the woman probably wouldn’t have survived if White didn’t take her.

View the full article at wfmj.com

Buckeye Horse Park will now be run by Mill Creek MetroParks

The Mill Creek MetroParks commissioners promised Monday night to keep the Buckeye Horse Park for horses. But at least for now, it will be run by the MetroParks and not Buckeye.

After 25 years, the Buckeye Horse Park on Route 224 west of Canfield will be run by Mill Creek MetroParks, though people involved with the horse park still hope further negotiations will change that plan.

Fifty people from the Buckeye Horse Park Association sat on one side of the room at Monday night’s Mill Creek MetroParks Board meeting.

Executive Director Aaron Young said the horse park is being taken over by the MetroParks.

“The goal of the organization is to operate that facility in the same manner in which we had previously. This time, without a third-party partnership agreement.”

“I would simply ask the board, however, to take a breath and I think that this can still be resolved,” said Atty. Darrell Markijohn, who represents Buckeye Horse Park.

Markijohn explained the reasons the association couldn’t agree to a new lease were because of demand by the MetroParks to deny horses access at any time and the stopping of overnight stabling during horse shows.

“Overnight stabling is a necessity for an equine facility,” Candice Murton-Bradbury said.

“Stipulations that were put on the Buckeye Horse Park made it almost impossible for them to accept that lease agreement and for them to use that property. They were more or less forced out,” Chris Jones said.

Bill Pintaric questioned if the MetroParks had the expertise to run a horse park.

“I think you’re going into this agreement without the knowledge necessary to actually maintain that facility because you don’t have anybody that knows what to do with it,” he said.

The people from the Horse Park Association asked for a meeting with the board to try to work things out.

“I want people to understand that, for 25 years, the volunteers have put their heart and soul into this equine facility,” Diane Byers said.

The MetroParks Board listened but didn’t promise anything. It was decided that attorneys for the two sides would meet, but no date was officially set.

View the full article at wkbn.com

Mill Creek golf course open for the spring

Are you teed up and ready to get your clubs out? Avid golfers in the Valley might be happy to know that golf season is kicking off. 

The Mill Creek MetroParks Golf Course officially opened for the 2019 season on Thursday. 

Hole #55 Bar & Grille will follow shortly after with an opening date of April 1, 2019. 

A release from the MetroParks says the South Course has a tentative opening date of Monday, April 22, 2019, weather permitting. 

Meanwhile, the Practice Range & Learning Center at the Mill Creek Golf Course and the James L. Wick, Jr. Recreation Area Par-3 Golf Course are both scheduled to open on Monday, April 15, 2019.

A release also says the tennis courts and sand volleyball courts also located at the Wick Recreation Area will open on Monday, April 15, 2019. 

Wick Recreation Area hours are 8 am to dark, with lighted night hours of 8 pm – 11 pm beginning Memorial Day weekend.
 
For more information and to schedule tee times, call 330-740-7112 or visit the Mill Creek MetroParks website. 

View the full article at wfmj.com
 

Portion of Mill Creek Bike Trail detour expected to open next week

With the arrival of spring, many in the Valley are looking for a way to get out and enjoy warmer temperatures. 

For bicyclists in the area that have missed the fourteen-and-a-half mile ride along the entirety of the Mill Creek MetroParks Bike Trail, you’ll likely be in luck soon. 

MetroParks officials say the bike trail is anticipated to open a detour near the Kirk Road Trailhead sometime next week. 

The trail has been closed between Kirk Road and Herbert Road since July 2018. 

According to park officials, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission was working to replace the turnpike bridges over the Bikeway. 

OTIC replaced the bridges with a large concrete arch culvert, thus creating a tunnel for the bikeway under the turnpike. 

Officials say contractors were out Thursday paving a portion of the new detour. 

Following the paving, crews have some final touches to put in, including fencing, barrier walls, and other safety features. 

Park officials say the official date of the opening of the new detour will depend upon the weather and when the crews can wrap up the final measures. 

During the closure, other sections of the bike trail have remained open, including from Western Reserve Road to Herbert Road, and from Kirk Road north into Niles. However, cyclists have not been able to travel the full length of the trail. 

The actual trailhead under the turnpike is expected to be completed and reopened at the end of 2019.

View the full article at wfmj.com

Mill Creek Park celebrates Pig Day

Mill Creek MetroParks hosted a Pig Day event March 2 at Metro Park Farm.

Naturalist Brenda Markley organized the event, which was a combination between celebrating pig day and the year of the pig in the Chinese New Year.

“It’s a fun way to let people learn about pigs, as well as have a good time at the park,” Markley said.

She prepared a number of pig themed games for children to play during the event.

Community members raced to use their “snouts” to push balls into hoops.

The park also offered pig themed bingo and free temporary pig tattoos.

Children colored photos of pigs, read pig themed books and learned facts about the animals.

“We love all animals here at the farm,” Markley said. “We love to celebrate them when ever we can.”

Community members were also able to visit Penelope, the resident pig at Metro Park Farms.

“It’s just a cute fun day for people to come enjoy spending some time at the park,” Markley said.

For more information on upcoming Metro Park Farms events, go to www.millcreekmetropark.org.

View the full article at vindy.com

Mutts, owners celebrate Mardi Gras at Mill Creek Park

Dog owners had the chance to celebrate a holiday and walk their dog at the same time on Sunday.

Mardi Paws started at the Ford Nature Center in Mill Creek Park. The walk lasted for two miles.

A dog owner, Debbie Mozzy says it’s a good opportunity to meet other people and their dogs.

“It lets you meet people who have other dogs and you get to make friends and you get your dogs out. It’s really good for the dogs for socializing — it is — and it’s really good for us.

Dog walks at the park are coordinated by MetroMutts. For a schedule, go to the park’s website.

View full article at wkbn.com