Notice of July Board Meeting

The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks has been scheduled for Monday, July 13 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.

For more information or questions, please contact Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000.

Garden Adventure Day June 6 at Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens

Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens presents Garden Adventure Day on June 6 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. This annual celebration is a free, family-friendly event. Enjoy adventuring throughout Fellows Riverside Gardens as treasure and fairies create a memorable day of fun for the whole family. Join in a variety of hands-on activities like Captain Hook’s obstacle course and a drum circle with organizations including the Green Team, Mahoning Valley Dahlia Society and more.

Garden Adventure Day is sponsored by WFMJ/WBCB and Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens. This event is free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine. For more information about Garden Adventure Day, visit millcreekmetroparks.org or call 330.740.7116.

June Board Meeting moved to June 30

The date of the next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks has been changed to Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm (7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield, OH 44406). The date of the meeting was changed to accommodate Park Commissioners’ schedules. The agenda will be available after 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

For more information or questions, please contact Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000.

Mill Creek Golf Course closed morning of May 8

The Mill Creek Golf Course will be closed the morning of Friday, May 8 due to a scheduled private event. Both North and South Courses will be closed. The Course will reopen to the public at 1:30 pm.

For more information about the Mill Creek Golf Course, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

 

33rd Annual Mill Creek MetroParks Earth Day Cleanup

More than 350 scouts and volunteers are expected to scour Mill Creek MetroParks in recognition of Earth Day to remove winter buildup of litter and debris. This year, 25 locations throughout the MetroParks will be visited by 22 different Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, and Girl Scout Troops. Groups will be coming from Austintown, Boardman, Canfield, New Middletown, North Jackson, Poland, Struthers, and Youngstown. The cleanup is co-sponsored by the Whispering Pines District of the Greater Western Reserve Council, B.S.A. and Mill Creek MetroParks.

The cleanup takes place on Saturday, April 25, 2015, throughout Mill Creek MetroParks. Coordinators will stop by the Ford Nature Education Center (840 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown, OH 44511) to pick up supplies before 9 a.m. and then meet with their groups at various locations and work until noon. This cleanup takes place rain or shine.

In 32 years, more than 10,700 participants have volunteered more than 33,400 hours to clean various areas of the MetroParks. Just in the past 13 years, more than 2,000 bags of trash and 900 bags of recyclables along with numerous loose items such as tires, toys, furniture, pipes, wood crates, electronic items, and even the proverbial kitchen sink, have been removed.  Last year, there were fewer bags of trash but more bags of recyclables.

As in years past, sponsorship of this event is in cooperation with the Recycling Division of the Mahoning County Green Team. They will be providing these hardworking volunteers with garbage and recycling bags, gloves, and grab-its, as well as pencils, certificates, and car litter bags for each participant.

This event is also in conjunction with the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup, and America’s leading companies and brands support the campaign. The Great American Cleanup is proud to have the following national sponsors for the 2015 Great American Cleanup: Lowe’s, Altria Group, Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola Recycling, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Unilever and Waste Management.

The MetroParks hosts the event by facilitating the organization and registration of groups, sites and supplies. Rural Metro Ambulance will be onsite in case of an emergency.

Areas within this cleanup include Mill Creek Park and Mill Creek MetroParks Regional Facilities Yellow Creek Park, Mill Creek Preserve, Vickers Nature Preserve, MetroParks Farm, and the MetroParks Bikeway.

For more information about this year’s cleanup or to have your group, organization, church, school, family or individuals come out and lend a hand, call the Ford Nature Education Center at 330.740.7107 or Mike Kupec, Mill Creek MetroParks Earth Day Cleanup Chairman for the Boy Scouts at 330.799.1475.

 

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

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife is scheduled to deliver approximately 2,500 catchable-size rainbow trout to Lake Glacier Boathouse on the morning of Thursday, April 16.

When the truck arrives, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) officials will attach plastic tubes to the side of the tank, open the gates behind the tubes, and water containing the trout will pour out through the tubes and into Lake Glacier. The release is over quickly, though the difference in water temperatures between the truck and lake usually put the fish into a brief state of shock so there may be an opportunity to see them up close before they swim away.

ODNR Division of Wildlife officials are authorized to inspect all catches and anglers must have the required state licenses. Those wishing to catch trout are reminded that:

  • Licenses are required and Mill Creek MetroParks Police officers are authorized to check for them
  • Foul-hooks are not permitted
  • There is a limit of 5 trout per angler per day
  • Fish are donated by the ODNR Division of Wildlife

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.

 

Ninth Annual Plant the Seed to Read Children’s Book Festival held April 18

The ninth annual Plant the Seed to Read Children’s Book Festival will be held Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens. This annual event is presented by Altrusa International, Youngstown Chapter; Western Reserve Public Media; the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County; and Mill Creek MetroParks. Admission is free.

Plant the Seed to Read is a family-friendly event that brings together authors, illustrators, storytellers and hands-on activities for children to promote literacy in the Mahoning Valley. The theme of this year’s Children’s Book Festival is “Soar into Reading.” Special guests include Sandra Phillipson and her two certified therapy dogs, author/illustrator Betsy Snyder, storyteller Candace Miller and actor/storyteller Tim Hartman. The Akron Children’s Hospital Air Bear Helicopter will land at approximately 10:30 a.m., (weather permitting) and be available for photos. Local children’s musical group ‘Hey Kid!’ will perform at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Learn about rescued birds from Birds in Flight Sanctuary.

Children can also visit the Western Reserve PBS booth area to meet and pose for photos with Peg + Cat (please bring cameras/smartphones for photos). Characters will be appearing from 10-10:30 a.m., 11-11:30 a.m., 12-12:30 p.m., 1-1:30 p.m. and 2-2:30 p.m. Students from Chaney VPA and Ballet Western will perform in the interim. Strollers are not permitted inside the building during this event – stroller parking will be available. Sign language interpreting will also be available.

 

Mill Creek MetroParks to Re-Open Roads Closed During Winter

Effective the afternoon of Friday, April 10, the following roads in Mill Creek Park will re-open to vehicular traffic:

  • Chestnut Hill Drive, between Canfield Road and the Kirkmere Spur
  • High Drive, between the Kirkmere Spur and West Cohasset Drive
  • Calvary Run Drive, between Belle Vista Avenue and Milton Avenue

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.

 

Mill Creek MetroParks to hold Farm Animal Baby Shower Sunday

Mill Creek MetroParks will hold its annual Farm Animal Baby Shower, sponsored by WFMJ/WBCB on Sunday, April 12 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm (7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield). This is a free, family-friendly event. Parking is available at the MetroParks Farm and at Gate 8 at the Canfield Fairgrounds.

Families are encouraged to come anytime between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to meet new arrivals to the MetroParks Farm including kids, lambs, calves, chicks, ducklings, piglets and more. There will also be mother animals who are still expecting. Bring cameras for great photo opportunities. Cake and punch will be served while supplies last.

Farm Animal Baby Shower is also the official opening of the barns at the MetroParks Farm. Barns will be open for the public to come and view the animals daily 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. through October. Many baby animals will be here all spring.

 

Notice of April Board Meeting

The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks has been scheduled for Monday, April 13 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. There will be opportunity for residents to comment on the Levy options that are currently being considered by the Board.

For more information or questions, please contact Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000.