The Mill Creek Metro Parks hosted a special Tales for Tots event featuring baby animals.

Two to three-years-olds and their families traveled to the Metro Park Farms to see the newest members of the farm community.

Naturalist Brenda Markley hosted the event which was attended by more than 11 children.

“We want to show case spring coming to the park by spot lighting our youngest farm animals,” Markley said.

To kick off the event Markley read the group “Sounds on the Farm.”

Children assisted in the reading of the book by echoing the sounds farm animals make as Markley read.

After reading about the animals children and their families took a trip to the barn where they got to meet them.

Children were able to pet ducklings and rabbits as Markley held them.

Community members were even able to meet a 2-month-old pig, Peter Porker, who is brand new to the farm.

“We just have a lot of new members of the farm community,” Markley said.

The Metro Parks Farm is open weekly for community members who want to come and see the animals themselves.

“We are always excited for this time of year,” Markley said. “It’s when the farm really comes alive.”

Full article at vindy.com

The Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation has received a $200,000 donation.

The James & Coralie Centofanti Charitable Foundation contributed $100,000 to the Ford Nature Center Campaign and their gift was matched by the Sand Hill Foundation.

The Ford Nature Center Campaign was launched in July 2018 to renovate the center.

According to the release, Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation has raised over $1 million since July and has received the challenge grant for every dollar up to $1 million from Sand Hill Foundation.

Planned upgrades to the Ford Nature Center aim to provide visitors with a more hands-on experience.

“This gift will have a tremendous impact on our continued effort to educate generations of children and adults about the wonders of the natural world through the Ford Nature Center” said Chris Litton, Director of Development for Mill Creek MetroParks.

The Board of Directors of The James & Coralie Cenofanti Foundation says, “The foundation is pleased to support The Campaign for the Ford Nature Center to future the mission of our Mill Creek MetroParks. James Centofanti, a recipient of the 2009 Volney Rogers Legacy Award for his support of the Park to preserve land, would be pleased to participate in this campaign.”

Full article at wfmj.com

A local foundation is donating $300,000 to the golf course at Mill Creek MetroParks.

The Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation presented the check on Wednesday morning.

The money will be used to pay for repairs and maintenance, as well as future expansion and improvements.

“When you look at this endowed fund, the one thing it’ll do is help create and maintain a space that provides enjoyment, exercise, leadership and, again, just people getting together and having fun,” said Mike Senchak, with the Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation.

Park directors unveiled a ceremonial rock near the Club House commemorating the donation.

View the full article at wkbn.com

A donation from the Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association has created an endowment to support the Wick Recreation Area at Mill Creek MetroParks.

The $4,387 gift was funded by the sale of maple syrup made by neighborhood group members using sugar maple trees planted in the Wick Recreation Area along McCollum Road.

“The Rocky Ridge Neighbors are thrilled to contribute to the beginnings of a unique sustainable legacy that has been created by the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation,” said John Slanina, association president, in a statement.

“Just as community leaders over 65 years ago planted the sugar maple grove in the Wick Recreation Area, which residents enjoy today, we hope this endowment will grow and provide support to future generations of parkgoers.”

This year’s batch of Mill Creek maple syrup is now available for purchase at the Fellows Riverside Gardens for $15 per bottle.

Pictured: Members of the Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association donate proceeds from the sale of maple syrup to create an endowment at the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.

View the full article at businessjournaldaily.com

A neighborhood group in Youngstown famous for their locally-produced maple syrup is the first to contribute to a new fund set up to support the Wick Recreation Area.

The Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association presented the Wick Recreation Area fund with a donation of $4,387 from the sale of their 2019 maple syrup harvest.

The syrup is unique to Youngstown because the all-volunteer team utilizes the Sugar House with the Wick Recreation Area to make the syrup.

Bottles of the syrup are $15 and sold in the gift shop at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

“The Rocky Ridge Neighbors are thrilled to contribute to the beginnings of a unique sustainable legacy that has been created by the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation,” said John Slanina, president of the Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association. “Just as community leaders over 65 years ago planted the sugar maple grove in the Wick Recreation Area which residents enjoy today, we hope this endowment will grow and provide support to future generations of parkgoers.”

The Wick Recreation Endowment is one of several targeted endowments launched by the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation.

View the full article at wkbn.com