Mill Creek MetroParks to Improve Lily Pond Parking Lot

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Mill Creek MetroParks is commencing a project to rehabilitate the existing Lily Pond parking lot.  The project goals include reducing impervious pavement areas, adding natural habitat, and improving water quality before stormwater reaches Lily Pond and Frog Pond.

The project will introduce permeable pavers and a bioswale within the parking lot and a biofiltration area adjacent to the Frog Pond.  Adding permeable pavers, swales and ponds, organic soil material, gravel areas and native plant species to this facility will enable the site to absorb and reduce the volume and velocity of stormwater.  Sediments and pollutants will also be filtered from the stormwater.  These new areas will significantly improve water quality, increase native species and wildlife habitat, and create an appealing feature within a prominent area of Mill Creek Park.

Mill Creek MetroParks has been awarded a Surface Water Improvement Fund (SWIF) grant through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) for this project.  The SWIF grant will cover 100% of the costs for the rehabilitation of the parking lot and construction of the biofiltration areas.  Mill Creek MetroParks has committed various in-kind services to further enhance the project.

Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 25, 2016, with the project expected to be completed within forty-five (45) days.  The Lily Pond will be closed throughout the duration of the project. 

Additional information can be obtained by calling Mill Creek MetroParks at 330-702-3000.

MILL CREEK METROPARKS TO HOST BIKEWAY OPEN HOUSE

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Mill Creek MetroParks will be conducting a public open house at the MetroParks Farm (7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield, OH 44406) on Thursday, May 5, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. to discuss Phase III of the MetroParks Bikeway. The general public is invited to ask questions and share comments about Bikeway Phase III planning and implementation efforts. Phase III is the proposed section of bikeway through Green Township that will connect the existing MetroParks Bikeway at Western Reserve Road to Columbiana County near Route 14 in the Village of Washingtonville. 

Aerial mapping and plan drawings of the project will be on display, and MetroParks personnel will be on-hand to answer questions from the public. Additionally, organizations with a focus on planning, trail development and bicycling will have informational tables set up and staffed. The open house will not include a formal presentation, but written project information and comment sheets will be provided to those who attend.

For several years now, the MetroParks has been working with consultants on the development and implementation of the Bikeway Phase III project. Illustrative mapping with trail alignment, environmental impacts, property identification, and preliminary design for the project have been developed. The open house will give the public a chance to view these documents, ask questions, and interact with personnel from the MetroParks and local agencies. 

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by ODOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 11, 2015, and executed by FHWA and ODOT. The proposed project will not impact any cultural resources, suspect hazardous waste sites or ecological resources. The project will not result in substantial impacts to the environment either individually or cumulatively. In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (codified as 36 CFR 800), ODOT requests information regarding the presence of any known cultural resources in the vicinity of the project. Cultural resources include prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, historic bridges, historic buildings, sites and districts.

Additional information can be obtained by calling Mill Creek MetroParks at 330-702-3000.

Mill Creek MetroParks Road Closures

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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 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2016 for the Run Y-Town 10 Miler:

  • Old Mill Drive
  • Kreider’s Entrance
  • West Newport Drive
  • East Newport Drive
  • Chestnut Hill 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. For more information about Mill Creek MetroParks, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

ODNR Division of Wildlife to Release Rainbow Trout at Mill Creek MetroParks

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The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is donating approximately 2,500 catchable-size rainbow trout to Mill Creek MetroParks and they are scheduled to deliver the fish to Lake Glacier on Thursday, April 14. The release is expected to occur in the morning, but the specific time is unknown based on several factors, as determined by ODNR and their hatchery.

Anglers must comply with the following rules:

  • State of Ohio fishing licenses are required
  • Foul-hooks are not permitted
  • Five (5) fish per person per day limit
  • No fishing is permitted in the area directly adjacent to the Lake Glacier Boathouse

ODNR Division of Wildlife officials and Mill Creek MetroParks Police are authorized to check for current fishing licenses and to inspect all fish caught.

For more information about Mill Creek MetroParks and fishing/boating season, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org. For information about Ohio fishing license requirements/stocking program, visit ODNR’s website at http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov.

Notice of April Board Meeting

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The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks has been scheduled for Monday, April 11 at 6 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm (7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield, OH 44406). The agenda will be available after 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Mill Creek Park to Celebrate 125th Birthday on April 6

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Mill Creek MetroParks is preparing to celebrate the 125th birthday of Mill Creek Park on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. It was on this day in 1891 that Youngstown voters approved the Ohio legislation to create a township park district, thus giving birth to Mill Creek Park.

Mill Creek MetroParks will be celebrating this milestone throughout 2016 with an assortment of guided hikes, trolley tours, and other themed events. Specific events being held on the Parks’ birthday included:

Happy Birthday Mill Creek Park Trolley Tour: Boards at Ford Nature Center
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m.
Ride aboard the Cohasset Express to visit and enjoy nostalgic areas of the park which reflect Volney Rogers’ original vision and efforts. Must register in advance, a small fee applies. To register and for more details call 330.740.7107.

Happy 125th Birthday – Hike in Gorge
9 a.m. & 6 p.m.
This recreational hike will meet at Lanterman’s Mill overflow lot. Recreational hikes are generally led by volunteers and tend to be faster paced. This hike is 2 miles.

Ford Nature Center Hunt & Hike
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Stop at Ford Nature Center and hunt up 25 birthday cakes hidden to commemorate the Quasquicentennial (125th anniversary). Once you find all 25 cakes head outside and go for a hike of your choice.

For a full list of April events celebrating the 125th birthday of Mill Creek Park visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org/events.

Mill Creek Golf Course to Open for the Season

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The North Course at Mill Creek Golf Course is set to open on Wednesday, March 23 for public play. The South Course and Practice Range & Learning Center will open Monday, April 11. The Par 3 Golf Course located at the James L. Wick, Jr. Recreation Area will open on Monday, April 4. Golf course openings are weather dependent.

Mill Creek Golf Course is the home for two national golf tournaments in 2016; the Golf Channel Amateur Tour and an American Junior Golf Association tournament, both taking place in June.

Tee times are available by calling the golf course or going online. More information on golf instructions, individually or in a class setting, as well as details on golf leagues is also available.

For questions and more information, call Mill Creek Golf Course at 330.740.7112.

Mill Creek Golf Course Added to Golf Channel Amateur Tour Schedule

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Mill Creek Golf Course is a new addition to the 2016 schedule for the Golf Channel Amateur Tour. The Golf Channel Amateur Tour provides an authentic tour quality experience for players of all ages and abilities. There are active tours in 50 cities in 2016, The Mill Creek Championship is part of the Cleveland tour and will be taking place on Saturday, June 11.
The June 11 event will have 12 flights, six of them senior flights. The players will be matched by age and skill set. The Mill Creek Championship is a qualifying event for the National Championship which will be held at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Brian Tolnar, PGA Director of Golf for Mill Creek MetroParks, provided this comment when asked about the Golf Channel Amateur Tour, “to be added to a tour schedule that includes courses such as TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, and Chambers Bay is very exciting. I think it speaks to the work we have put in at Mill Creek Golf Course in the past year. Not only to improve the course, but to build relationships in the golf community. Our team and I are thrilled to bring this event to the Valley.”

The deadline to register for the Mill Creek Championship is June 8, 2016 and registrations should be done through www.gcamtour.com.

2016 Master Gardener Series

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Mill Creek MetroParks staff recently made the decision to postpone the 2016 Master Gardener Series. Last year’s, and now this year’s, participation is the lowest in the program’s history. The decline in attendance is attributed in part to the fact that The Ohio State University’s Mahoning County Extension office offers a very similar program that happens around the same time.

Fellows Riverside Garden staff has been working for the past year to improve the content and the scheduling of these classes to gain greater interest. It is the staff’s goal to ensure that the quality of the programming remains top-notch while working to develop partnerships in the community in an effort to eliminate any duplication of services.

The Advanced Master Gardener Series will proceed as previously planned. Anyone interested in a 2016 Master Gardener Program is encouraged to contact Eric Barrett at The Ohio State University’s Mahoning County Extension office. We look forward to the return of this program at Fellows Riverside Garden in 2017!

Notice of March Board Meeting

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The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks has been scheduled for Monday, March 14 at 6 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm (7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield, OH 44406). The agenda will be available after 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting.