Outside media coverage of Mill Creek MetroParks

YSU students to plant over 1,600 trees at local park

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On Thursday, Youngstown State University students will be planting 1,650 trees at Mill Creek MetroParks Collier Reserve.

According to a press release, the yearly project is part of the YSU Legacy Forests’ effort to reduce greenhouse gases by planting micro-forests in the Mahoning Valley.

YSU said that the goal is to plant one tree for every incoming YSU freshman. This planting represents a portion of the trees honoring the 2022 freshmen class.

The group partners with Mill Creek MetroParks to mitigate the climate crisis.

 

Read the original article at WKBN.

Tree planting planned at Collier Preserve in Mill Creek Metroparks Thursday

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Mill Creek Metroparks is teaming up with the YSU Legacy Forest Committee to plant 1,650 trees at the Collier Preserve in Mill Creek Metroparks on Thursday, November 17.

The event is part of an ongoing reforestation program at the Collier Reserve to help to reduce the effects of habitat loss and climate change in the Mahoning Valley.

The trees will begin being planted at noon on Thursday.

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Mill Creek Park seeks food, beverage vendor for Wick Warming House

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Mill Creek Metroparks has big plans for building that once served as a place for ice skaters to warm up and sip from a mug of hot cocoa.

The park board this week announced that it is looking for vendors to serve food and beverages at the Wick Recreation Area, including what is still known by many as the Warming House.

The park is in the process of renovating the building to include space for varied public and private use.

The Wick Snack Hut will be inside the Warming House, catering to food and beverage needs of recreational leagues and those attending the Morley Concert Series.

The food operation will serve several children’s playground areas including a wet playground, Par-3 golf course, tennis courts, volleyball courts, baseball fields, softball fields, Dek hockey and a small banquet/party room.

The Wick Warming House Renovations are expected to be completed in 2023.

Completed proposals are to be submitted by November 30, 2022.

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Mill Creek MetroParks accepting vendor proposals for rec area

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Officials with Mill Creek MetroParks are looking for a vendor to oversee the food and beverage operation at the Wick Recreation Area.

The station will be located inside the Wick Warming House — where renovations will be completed sometime next year.

The deadline for proposals is Nov. 30.

 

Read the original article at WKBN.

Mill Creek MetroParks Projects Progressing

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The Ford Nature Center redevelopment project is wrapping up, while the East Hike and Bike Trail project is just getting started.

Watch the video on WFMJ.

Next phase of bike trail to start as 3rd phase goes through court

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Phase II of the Mill Creek MetroParks East Park Hike and Bike Trail is getting started.

Beginning Nov. 1, a staging area will be set up in the overflow parking lot near Lanterman’s Mill, but the lot will remain open for public use.

Phase II of the plan is a continuation of a project to increase safety for cyclists and pedestrians as they travel through the East Park Corridor. It includes an 8-foot wide paved asphalt trail that extends from US-224 in Boardman Township to Old Furnace Road in Youngstown. The work should take about 60 days.

Phase III of the project, which will extend the trail into Green Township, is making its way through the court system. The Ohio Supreme Court is hearing an appeal by the Board of Commissioners of the Mill Creek Metropolitan Park District after a lower court ruled that it can not claim eminent domain in using property owned by Diane Less for the trail.

Less is one of 13 landowners whose property is needed for the trail.

The appeal was filed May 5 and was accepted by the Ohio Supreme Court Sept. 14. No further court dates have been set.

 

Read the original article at WKBN.

Phase Two work to begin on Hike & Bike Trail in Mill Creek Park

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Work is scheduled to get under way Tuesday on Phase Two of the East Park Hike & Bike Trail in Mill Creek Park.

Crews will be clearing land, excavating, and pavement work along a new trail parallel to East Park Drive just north of Canfield Road.

The project is a continuation of work done three years ago to allow pedestrians and cyclists to travel through the East Park Corridor in Youngstown and Boardman.

A portion of the Lanterman’s Mill Overflow parking lot will be used by the contractor for staging equipment but will remain open for use by the public.

No roads, trails, programs, special events or rentals will be impacted by the temporary closures.

The project is expected to last approximately sixty days in total, barring any inclement weather that would delay or prolong the anticipated project schedule.

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Mercy Health Foundation golf tournament continues to be financial success for Valley

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A local golf tournament at Mill Creek Park is continuing to be a financial success for the Mahoning Valley.

The Mercy Health Foundation’s American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Junior All-Star event and AJGA preview events took place at Mill Creek Golf Course in late June.

The tournaments hosted 276 junior competitors including eight junior players who earned their spot in a Sunday regional qualifier event for the Junior All-Star event.

This year alone, the tournament had an economic impact of $408,097 in the Mahoning Valley and a total of $2,227,491 since its inception in 2016. This impact includes lodging for families and AJGA representatives, rental cars, dining and entertainment spending.

In addition, an $8,950 donation was made between the Mill Creek Metroparks Foundation and the AJGA Ace Grant, which came from the money raised for the AJGA tournament and Junior Amateur event held on the Monday prior to the main event.

The AJGA has raised a total of $59,950 for charities and has represented players from all 50 states, as well as 29 different countries.

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.

Kravitz and Mill Creek MetroParks to continue partnership

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Mill Creek MetroParks has signed a deal to continue partnership with Kravitz.

Rydar Group, LLC has signed a three year agreement with Mill Creek MetroParks to keep Inspired Catering by Kravitz and the Garden Cafe by Kravitz.

Kravitz was originally awarded the food contract with Mill Creek Park in 2016.

Patrons are able to enjoy views of Mill Creek and Lake Glacier, and are able to book public and private events in the Davis Center.

Inspired Catering offers daily lunches, private catering and Sunday Brunch. They also host public events, including Breakfast with Santa, Easter Brunch, Celtic Garden Celebration, Mother’s Day Brunch, and the Summer Garden Party.

 

Read original article at WFMJ.

Scout gives disc golfers a break

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Before month’s end, Boy Scout Gabe Dearing, 15, will be finishing his Eagle Scout project by installing benches on the Mill Creek MetroParks’ disc golf course in Canfield.

Gabe, the son of Kathleen and Albin Dearing of Poland, is a sophomore at Poland Seminary High School.

His project is five months in the making and involves many stages.

“So far he had to create a construction manual, a bill of materials, build a prototype and practice the installation of the prototype,” Gabe’s father said. “As of right now, he has completed the prototype, practice installation and construction manual. On Aug. 6, he completed the construction of the (five) benches that are required for the project.”

Five Scouts and three adults participated in construction of the benches. Utilizing EDGE (Educate, Demonstrate, Guide, and Enable), Gabe was able to lead the team through the construction process. He first educated them on safety and construction practices, then demonstrated and guided them through assembly of the bench. This enabled the team to build the rest of the benches on their own.

Gabe said he has some time invested in his project and more to come when the benches are installed.

“There are currently about 30 man hours in the project between building the prototype, buying and prepping the material, Day One assembly and paint and stain,” Gabe said. “The installation Saturday will add about 18 more man-hours to the project.”

It’s taken some balancing of his schedule.

“I took advantage of weekends when I didn’t have anything going to work on the design and the project plan,” he said. “Once the Eagle proposal was complete, I was able to work in several time slots to get all the prep done. Going to Scout summer camp in July provided a break from the project, but I knew that as soon as I got home, I had to make some progress before soccer season started and the weather turned bad.”

As for what Gabe enjoyed about the project, he said: “Leading the Scouts in the construction of the benches. I had a solid plan, so I was able to enjoy the time and have fun with it.”

Gabe’s brother Noah, 19, installed fishing line receptacles at the MetroParks Farm’s fishing pond three years ago. Their dad said the park offers a lot of opportunity and the Dearing family members are big park users.

“Gabe wanted to perform a project that would benefit an outdoor activity for the park,” Albin Dearing said. “His mother is a big user of the park, especially with her friends who are part of the Steel Valley Triathalon Club, and they are often biking and running in the park system. As a result, Gabe reached out to Nick Derico, Mill Creek Park natural resources manager who had worked with Noah on his project in 2020.”

He said Derico offered several project ideas, but Gabe preferred the bench project because it presented multiple opportunities for him to demonstrate leadership during the planning, construction and installation phases.

Gabe is a member of Troop 9002 based out of the Poland United Methodist Church. He plays high school soccer on the junior varsity team.

He has amassed 21 merit badges, including 12 Eagle merit badges that are required to get an Eagle award. Once having completed 31 merit badges, he will be eligible for a bronze and gold palm in addition to his Eagle award. Palms are issued upon completion of a specific number of merit badges.

MONTHS OF WORK

Work on Gabe’s project began in April. He was approved for the project through the BSA Great Trail Council. He had to work off a design the park hoped would give disc golfers a place to rest their bags and discs off possibly wet ground.

Derico said the disc golf course at the MetroParks farm is becoming popular. He said its use is seasonal and weather-dependent, but it does get daily use in season.

“It is very welcome to have permanent benches along the disc golf course,” he said. “This project was identified several years ago, and we are excited to finally see the benches being installed. The addition of these benches throughout the disc golf course will give players a place to rest between holes, watch friends or even just a dry place to set their gear.”

Derico said the MetroParks normally works with one to three scouts a year who are striving for their Eagle award. Once the benches are installed, the project will be done and Gabe can plan for a November Eagle Award Court of Honor.

Gabe plans on attending The Ohio State University but hasn’t settled on a major yet.

View the original article at The Vindicator.