Mill Creek Golf Course to hold Snowbird Scramble Tournament

The 3rd Annual Snowbird Scramble Tournament at Mill Creek Golf Course will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. The event format is a four player team scramble with severe pin placements. Teams can be made up of any combination men, women, seniors or juniors. Men will play the white tee markers, women will play the red markers, seniors (60+) & juniors (16 & under) will play the gold tee markers. “It’s a great way to usher out the 2017 golf season at Mill Creek Golf Course in a relaxing tournament setting with friends and family. The format makes this event a lot of fun for area golfers who will see the flags placed in some unusual hole locations,” says Brian Tolnar, PGA Director of Golf at Mill Creek Golf Course.

Entry Fee of $45/Player, $180/Team includes: greens fees, cart fees, chili cookout, event purse and skill event prizes. An option skins game will be available during the day of play. Register by stopping in or calling the Mill Creek Golf Course at 330.740.7112.

Notice of MetroParks Standing Committee Meetings

The Wildlife Standing Committee to the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks will meet on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at 6 p.m., in Classroom A at the MetroParks Farm in Canfield. 

The Community Engagement Standing Committee to the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks will meet on Thursday, October 19, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., in Classroom A at the MetroParks Farm in Canfield.

The Horticulture Standing Committee to the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks will meet on Monday, October 30, 2017, at 6 p.m., in Birch Hill Cabin, near the Lily Pond in Mill Creek Park.

Mill Creek MetroParks to Host Family Halloween Bash at the Mill

Mill Creek MetroParks will host the Family Halloween Bash at Lanterman’s Mill on Saturday, October 21 from 3:30 – 6 p.m. Dress in your Halloween finest for a child friendly party for all ages! Enjoy music and dancing, snacks, games, a costume competition, and more. Adults must be accompanied by a child. This event is sponsored by WKBN 27 First News.

Admission is $3 for Mahoning County residents, $5 for non-residents if registered and paid by October 19. Fees for late admission or walk-ins (limited space) are $5 for residents and $7 for non-residents. For more information or to register, call Ford Nature Center at 330.740.7107 or visit our website at millcreekmetroparks.org.

Mill Creek MetroParks Partners to bring New Recreational Opportunity to Wick Recreation Area

Mill Creek MetroParks is partnering with the Youngstown Phantoms Hockey Team of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation to renovate the former ice skating rink at Wick Recreation Area into a street hockey rink, also known as Dek Hockey. The goal is to provide an additional 4-season form of recreation for both youths & adults. “Partnerships like these are going to allow us to increase recreational opportunities to our park visitors. This opportunity give us the ability to link past history of the former ice rink to a new form of recreation that is growing in popularity,” says Aaron Young, Mill Creek MetroParks Executive Director.

 

Dek Hockey is a variation of the sport of ice hockey where the game is played outdoors on foot, or with inline skates using a ball. The project comes 15 years after the closing of the original skating rink in 2002. February 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the original opening of the ice skating rink at Wick Recreation Area.

Mill Creek Golf Course Cart Staging Area Project is Set to Begin

The golf cart staging area capital improvement project is set to begin next week at the Mill Creek Golf Course. The project will include an expanded golf cart staging area in front of the Mill Creek Golf Course Fieldhouse which will feature a larger area to accommodate an additional 36 golf carts, pull carts and landscaped areas. All areas of the course will be unaffected by this project and will remain open for normal play and tee times. Parella & Pannunzio Inc. was awarded the project on September 18, 2017.

Wick Recreation Area and Par 3 Course to Close for Season

Located in the James L. Wick, Jr. Recreation Area, the Par 3 Golf Course is a popular 18-hole Par 3 course for golfers of all ages. It will close for the 2017 golf season on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 and will re-open again in the spring. Other various amenities such as the volleyball courts and tennis courts will be closing over the next few weeks for the season. One of the three tennis courts, ball fields, and The Juliana Kurinka Children’s Play Area, with the exception of the Wet Playground, will remain open all winter.

West Newport Drive to Temporarily Close for Improvement Project

West Newport Drive in Mill Creek Park will be closing this week for a road improvement project. This project consists of improvements to West Newport Drive from Canfield Road (Route 62) to the Hampton Drive entrance. Items of construction within this project will improve stormwater drainage and surface conditions of the park drive. Improvements include curbing repair, drainage conduit and catch basin removal and installation, shoulder grading, pavement planning, placing intermediate and surface courses of asphalt concrete and miscellaneous related items. 

The project was awarded to Shelly & Sands, Inc. at a total cost of $183,420.75. The project should be completed in approximately one month. In the event of inclement weather, the work schedule will be delayed and adjusted accordingly.

“Blossom” Art Exhibit on display in the Weller Gallery at Fellows Riverside Gardens

The Weller Gallery in the Davis Visitor Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens presents “Blossom” by Youngstown artist, Daniel Rauschenbach. The exhibit features watercolor paintings which reflect the inspiration of blooms in Fellows Riverside Gardens and the plants throughout Mill Creek MetroParks. Rauschenbach creatively places the plants in vessels from old homes in the Youngstown area.

This free exhibit is being displayed now through November 19, 2017. A Meet the Artist session is available in the Weller Gallery on Sunday, October 15 from 1 – 6 pm. Take this opportunity to meet and visit with Daniel. Rauschenbach is also part owner of Youngstown’s SOAP Gallery located in Downtown Youngstown.

 For more information on the Meet the Artist session or exhibit, visit or call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330.740.7116.

Mill Creek MetroParks Road Closures

The following roads in Mill Creek Park will be closed to vehicular traffic as well as cyclists and pedestrians from approximately 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2017 for the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk:

• Bears Den Drive

• Cross Drive

• West Drive

Always use caution when driving on MetroParks roads as many of these roads are also used by pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians and bicyclists should be reminded to also use caution and be aware of vehicular traffic when on these roads

Mill Creek Golf Course Bunker Restoration Project Set to Begin

The Mill Creek Golf Course Bunker Restoration Capital Improvement Project is set to begin this week on the South Course. The project will include the restoration of 36 bunkers and additional drainage work. The South Course will be open for play during the restoration process, but may be limited to 9 Hole play on a few of the days during the restoration process. The North Course and Practice Facility will remain open for normal play and tee times. Golf Preservations Inc. was awarded the project on September 18, 2017.