The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks is scheduled for Monday, August 13, 2018, at 6 p.m. in McMahon Hall, at the MetroParks Farm, on Rt. 46 in Canfield. The agenda will be available on the website after 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
The Records Retention Commission will meet on Monday, August 13, 2018, at 5:30 p.m., in Classroom A, at the MetroParks Farm, on Rt. 46 in Canfield.
Mill Creek Golf Course is now accepting outings and leagues for the 2019 golf season. Golf outings will have the opportunity to rotate between the North & South Courses and all golf leagues will have a rotation between the four, nine hole courses. All golf outings held at Mill Creek include the complimentary services of our PGA Professional’s for tournament set-up, skirted registration & prize tables, customized cart signage, event rules sheets, skill event prizes, customized leaderboard scoring, skins game scoring, result sheets and tournament announcements.
For more information on available dates and event contracts, contact the Mill Creek Golf Shop at (330)740-7112. Reserving general tee times will be available after October 1, 2018 and can also be made by contacting the Mill Creek Golf Shop.
Through coordinated efforts, Mill Creek MetroParks personnel and Buckeye Horse Park volunteers successfully completed a trail improvement project at Vickers Nature Preserve, a 262-acre preserve located on Akron-Canfield Road (Route 224) in Ellsworth Township. The project consisted of creating a well-marked and cohesive trail system to be enjoyed by both first time and seasoned trail users. The marked trails consist of an outer loop (Buckeye Trail, 2.2 miles), an inner loop (Creekside Trail, 1.1 miles), Red Gate Trail (0.30 miles), and Midland Trail (0.31 miles). The newly installed trail markers consist of (8) trailhead signs, (9) access signs, (3) parking lot signs, (1) interpretative education sign, and color-coded directional markers at each trail intersection.
This partnership project between Buckeye Horse Park and Mill Creek MetroParks was funded through a 2017 STEP Grant. The $2910.00 grant, awarded by the American Quarter Horse Association, aimed to enhance the overall trail experience throughout Vickers Nature Preserve for both hikers and equestrian riders.
On behalf of Mill Creek MetroParks, ByceAUCTION of Youngstown will offer the residence at 5700 Clingan Road at online auction, with 100% of the sale proceeds being dedicated to the Ford Nature Center Redevelopment Project.
This one-of-a-kind property consists of a 4417 square foot single-family residence built in 1993, secluded on a 5.9 acre campus that borders lands owned by Aqua Ohio that are currently leased by the MetroParks. Just east of Lake Hamilton and south of Yellow Creek Park and accessed by an 800 foot lighted private drive, the contemporary architectural quality home features; 4 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half baths, two master suites, vaulted ceilings, great room with fireplace, cat walk, den, Florida room, 2 car attached garage, multiple decks, electronic security and carriage house all surrounded by old growth trees. Located within the Struthers School District with parcels in Poland Township, the current Mahoning County tax value is $455,780 and current annual property taxes are $9,196.
Opening bid is a nominal $175,000. Those interested can contact Byce Realty at 330-747-7000 and may also view photos and drone video, registration requirements and terms and conditions prior to the auction ending on August 22nd on the website www.byceonline.com
Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek MetroParks will be closed to the public beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 27 for the Annual Summer Garden Party fundraiser. This event is hosted by the Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens. The Gardens will reopen to the public on Saturday morning, July 28. For more information call 330-740-7116.
Mill Creek MetroParks will present Bug Day on Sunday, August 5, from 11 a. m. – 4 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield. Kids can earn a “Master of Bugology” diploma by playing bug bingo, racing bugs, hunting for bugs, making a bug craft, and more. This free event is sponsored by WFMJ/WBCB and held rain or shine.
For event details, call Ford Nature Center at 330.740.7107 or visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org.
The Horticulture Standing Committee to the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks will meet on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 6 p.m. at Fellows Riverside Gardens.
The Nature Education Standing Committee to the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks will meet on Monday, July 30, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. in Classroom A at the MetroParks Farm.
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) will be replacing the existing turnpike bridges over the MetroParks Bikeway, located directly south of Kirk Road Trailhead. The project will begin on July 17, 2018 and is expected to be completed in late 2019. Bikeway access through the project area will NOT be permitted throughout the construction project but the remainder of the bikeway will remain open.
OTIC will replace the bridges with a large concrete arch culvert, thus creating a tunnel for the bikeway under the turnpike. OTIC’s project will be completed in two phases. During the first phase, pedestrians/bicyclists will not be able to travel south on the bikeway from Kirk Road Trailhead and pedestrians/bicyclists traveling north from Herbert Road will arrive at a “dead-end”. The second phase of the project is anticipated to begin in November 2018 and includes construction of a detour for the bikeway. At that time, through access for pedestrians/bicyclists will be restored by means of the detour. Once OTIC’s project is totally completed in 2019, the detour will be removed and bikeway traffic will be routed through the new tunnel.
West Newport Drive in Mill Creek Park will be closing on Monday, July 16, 2018, for a road improvement project. The project consists of improvements to West Newport Drive from Sheban Drive to the Hampton Drive entrance. The project is designed to improve stormwater drainage, roadway surface conditions, aesthetics and park user safety along the drive. Improvements include pavement planing, placing intermediate and surface courses of asphalt concrete, installation of aggregate shoulders, new pavement markings and miscellaneous related items.
The project was awarded to Butch & McCree Paving Inc. at a total cost of $271,092.95. The project is partially funded through ODOT using their Park District Road Improvement Fund at $126,933. The project should be completed in approximately three weeks. In the event of inclement weather, the work schedule will be delayed and adjusted accordingly.
In 2017, the MetroParks completed a comprehensive improvement project along West Newport Drive between Canfield Road (Route 62) and the Hampton Drive entrance, and in 2018 completed a stormwater and linear grading project in preparation for this improvement project. Upon completion of this upcoming improvement project, the entire length of West Newport Drive in Mill Creek Park will be improved.
Local topiary artist, Mike Gibson, uses his self-taught landscaping and art skills to creatively turn ordinary trees and shrubs into whimsical living sculptures. The exhibit, “A Diamond in the Rough”, showcases a rare art form of unique shapes that bend the rules on what is possible with topiary in the Outdoor Gallery at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Mr. Gibson recognizes Fellows Riverside Gardens 60th anniversary in his exhibit title. His landscape work is featured throughout the Mahoning Valley at local businesses and private residences.
This free exhibit is being displayed now through December 31, 2018. A Meet the Artist session will take place on Sunday, August 12 from 1 – 3 pm in the Gazebo/Outdoor Gallery at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Take this opportunity to meet and visit with this talented artist and see his works.
For more information on the Meet the Artist session or this outdoor exhibit, visit or call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330.740.7116.