Mill Creek MetroParks Welcomes Runners for Annual Distance Classic Temporary Road and Facility Closures

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Mill Creek MetroParks is excited to host the Youngstown Road Runners Club Mill Creek Distance Classic Half Marathon and 5 Mile Run on Sunday, March 23, 2025! This annual event brings together runners from near and far to experience the park’s scenic beauty while promoting health, wellness, and community spirit.

To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, some roads and facilities will be temporarily closed to vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Roads & Facilities Affected:

  • Bears Den Road
  • New Cross Drive
  • West Park Drive
  • West Cohasset Drive
  • High Drive
  • Chestnut Hill Drive
  • East Park Drive
  • Valley Drive
  • East Park Hike & Bike Trail
  • East Cohasset Hike & Bike Trail
  • Robinson Hill Drive
  • Memorial Hill Drive (heading to Slippery Rock Bridge)
  • West Glacier Drive
  • Wick Recreation Area Tennis Courts and Dek Hockey Rink

Limited Access Areas:

Ford Nature Center will only be accessible via Volney Road from Glenwood Avenue.

Lily Pond and Birch Hill Cabin will only be accessible via the McCollum Road entrance to Birch Hill Drive.

Trail access to Robinson Hill Drive (near Ford Nature Center) and West Glacier Drive (near the Lily Pond) will be closed during the event.

We appreciate the public’s support in making this race a success! Whether you’re running, cheering, or enjoying the park later in the day, we thank you for your cooperation and encourage everyone to celebrate this exciting tradition.

As always, we remind drivers to use caution on MetroParks roads, as they are shared with pedestrians and cyclists. Likewise, pedestrians and cyclists should remain aware of vehicular traffic for a safe and enjoyable park experience.

Notice of March Board Meeting

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The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks is scheduled for Monday, March 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., in the Education Building – McMahon Hall, at the MetroParks Farm, on Rt. 46, in Canfield. The agenda will be available on the website after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

As a reminder, all weapons are prohibited inside Mill Creek MetroParks facilities. All members of the public attending the meetings will be required to pass through a metal detection device as part of MetroParks safety procedures.

Notice of February Board Meeting

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The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks is scheduled for Monday, February 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., in the Education Building – McMahon Hall, at the MetroParks Farm, on Rt. 46, in Canfield. The agenda will be available on the website after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

As a reminder, all weapons are prohibited inside Mill Creek MetroParks facilities. All members of the public attending the meetings will be required to pass through a metal detection device as part of MetroParks safety procedures.

Notice of January Board Meeting

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The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks is scheduled for Monday, January 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., in the Education Building – McMahon Hall, at the MetroParks Farm, on Rt. 46, in Canfield. The agenda will be available on the website after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

As a reminder, all weapons are prohibited inside Mill Creek MetroParks facilities. All members of the public attending the meetings will be required to pass through a metal detection device as part of MetroParks safety procedures.

Notice of December Board Meeting

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The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks is scheduled for Monday, December 9, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the Rossi Auditorium at Fellows Riverside Gardens, in Youngstown. The agenda will be available on the website after 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting. A meeting of the Public Records Commission will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the same location.

As a reminder, all weapons are prohibited inside Mill Creek MetroParks facilities. All members of the public attending the meetings will be required to pass through a metal detection device as part of MetroParks safety procedures.

Mill Creek MetroParks Winter Road Closures

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Effective Friday, December 6, 2024 the following roads in Mill Creek Park will be closed to vehicular traffic for the winter season:

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

When closed to vehicular traffic, these roads are available for recreational use for hiking, cross country skiing and sledding. Aside from recreational opportunities, benefits of winter road closures include cost savings associated with snow/ice removal as well as a reduction of negative environmental impacts from deicing salt. All roads will reopen in the spring when the weather permits.

In the winter months, snow and ice can create slippery roadway conditions. Roads with limited shoulders, lack of guardrails and steep grades can become increasingly hazardous for motorists. Always use caution when driving on MetroParks roads.

Celebrating the Holiday Season in Mill Creek Park

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Beginning December 6, 2024 – December 31, 2024, the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens will present Winter Celebration: Festival of Trees, a family-friendly, admission-free event. This year, 75 uniquely decorated trees by local nonprofits will bring magic to the Davis Center for all to enjoy. Visitors will also be able to view the beautiful seasonal flowers on display, find the perfect gift at the Shop in the Gardens, and savor refreshments available for purchase in Kravitz’s Garden Cafe. Experience Winter Celebration: Festival of Trees Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. through December 31, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. through December 22, closed Christmas Eve, December 24 and Christmas Day, December 25, 2024.

On Saturday and Sunday evenings, December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Fellows Riverside Gardens will feature Winter Nights, a free admission outdoor light display highlighting the beauty of winter. Warm up inside the Davis Center and enjoy the Winter Celebration tree display and special character appearances from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Character visits include Bluey on Saturday, December 7, Elsa on Sunday, December 8, Santa on Saturday, December 14, The Grinch on Sunday, December 15, Buddy the Elf on Saturday December 21, and Santa on Sunday, December 22.

One weekend only, enjoy Holiday Nights at Lanterman’s Mill, an exclusive, night-time look inside the iconic structure, with its unique history and architecture, beautifully dressed in holiday style with garland, Christmas trees, holiday music, and a visit from Santa creating a magical, quiet evening. Holiday Nights will be held on Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, 2024 from 5:00 -7:00 pm. The gift shop will be open for last-minute shopping along with hot chocolate and popcorn for purchase.

Festive Finds will take place inside the Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens. Over 30 vendors will be on-site for purchasing those last-minute gifts and holiday treats. Festive Finds runs Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Notice of MetroParks Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

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The Education Citizens Advisory Committee to the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks will meet on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., in the Education Building – Classroom A, at Ford Nature Center, 840 Old Furnace Road, in Youngstown.

10- A Retrospect to be on Display in Weller Gallery

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Mill Creek MetroParks presents 10- A Retrospect showcasing works from local artist Diane Beatty. This exhibit marks Beatty’s 10th anniversary of capturing photos which feature images of the Valley and familiar nearby places from each year of her career. ” I want my photography to tell a story. Even though I’ve traveled far, I will always consider the photographs that I have captured in this valley, my best work,” says Beatty.

This free exhibit will be on display October 27, 2024 through January 5, 2025, within the Weller Gallery inside the Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens, during normal operating hours of Tuesdays – Sundays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed Mondays.

A meet the artist event is scheduled for Sunday, October 27, 2024 from Noon to 2:00 p.m. in the Weller Gallery.

For more information on this exhibit please visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org or call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330.740.7116.

$2 million home donated to Mill Creek MetroParks project

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A house on Route 46 in Canfield is up for sale for $2 million. That money is more than just the price of the home. It amounts to a major donation towards a Children’s Garden inside Mill Creek Park.

The garden is located at Fellows Riverside Garden. It was originally built in the 1980’s. Now, the Mill Creek Metroparks Foundation is working on redeveloping it.

The hope is to make the children’s garden a more interactive experience.

“The design encompasses several different garden areas. With a really heavy focus on vegetation, getting kids out there to use their senses to touch, smell, feel, learn about vegetation,” said Justin Rogers, Planning and Operations Director for Mill Creek Metroparks.

The children’s garden will be made up of 5 smaller gardens: a stream garden, a forest garden, a wonder rooms garden, a sensory garden and a harvest garden.

The Fox family donated the $2 million dollar home to the Mill Creek Park Foundation. Rogers said the donation is helping the park move forward with the project.

“The timeline would certainly be extended longer than it is now. So that’s $2 million. We’re up to about $2.5 million for this $3 million project. So it really gets the green light going,” said Rogers.

The Fox family donated the home in memory of a family member, AJ Fox, who died in 2016.

Because of the family’s donation, the Board of Mill Creek MetroParks Commissioners approved an agreement that allowed the garden to be renamed to Anthony J. Fox Family Foundation Children’s Garden.

The family shared the following statement:

“AJ Fox was a father, son, brother, and husband. To those of us who knew him, he was more than that. He was a giver and an optimist. It has been said that people die twice. Once when you take your last breath, and the second when someone says your name for the last time. In the spirit of who AJ was, we wish to make this donation to the Mill Creek MetroParks Children’s Garden. Our hope is that while its beauty spreads joy to the families of our community, they will forever think of AJ.”

“They wanted to have something that remembered AJ Fox, his family and his contributions to the community,” said Rogers.

Other donations were given towards the project, but the names of the donors have not been announced yet.

The redevelopment project has been in the works for years.

Construction for the children’s garden is already underway. It’s expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

You can donate here.

 

 

Read the original article at WFMJ.