32nd Annual Mill Creek MetroParks Earth Day Cleanup

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More than 450 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 25 different Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Girl Scout Troops and the Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow. Groups will be coming from Austintown, Boardman, Canfield, Girard, 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 26, 2014, 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 31 years, more than 10,250 participants have volunteered more than 32,050 hours to clean various areas of the MetroParks. Just in the past 12 years, more than 1,800 bags of trash and 800 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 2014 Great American Cleanup: Dow, The Glad Products Company, Lowe’s, Phillips 66, Troy-Bilt Lawn and Garden Equipment 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.

North Course at Mill Creek Golf Course Now Open

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The North Course at the Mill Creek Golf Course is now open for the season. The Donald Ross-designed championship 36-hole Mill Creek Golf Course is located at 1 West Golf Dr., Boardman, OH 44512. The South Course at the Mill Creek Golf Course will open at a later date.

Call 330.740.7112 for the most up-to-date status of the Course in case of inclement weather. For more information about the Mill Creek Golf Course or to make a tee time, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Mill Creek MetroParks Wick Recreation Area Par 3 Course to open April 10

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The Mill Creek MetroParks Par 3 Golf Course, located in the James L. Wick, Jr. Recreation Area, will open April 10. The Par 3 Golf Course is a popular 18-hole Par 3 course for golfers of all ages. In addition, the batting cages, tennis courts and sand volleyball courts also located at the Wick Recreation Area will open April 10. Hours are 8 a.m. to dark. Lighted night hours of 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. will begin Memorial Day weekend.

For more information about the James L. Wick, Jr. Recreation Area, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Wick Recreation Area Par 3 Course to open April 10

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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 and will also open on April 10. In addition, the batting cages, tennis courts and sand volleyball courts also located at the Wick Recreation Area will open April 10. Hours are 8 a.m. to dark, with lighted night hours of 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. beginning Memorial Day weekend.

For more information about James L. Wick, Jr. Recreation Area, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Plant the Seed to Read Children’s Book Festival

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Plant the Seed to Read, the Youngstown Area Children’s Book Festival, will be held Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Mill Creek MetroParks’ Fellows Riverside Gardens. This eighth annual event is presented by Western Reserve Public Media, the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, Mill Creek MetroParks and the Altrusa Club of Youngstown. Admission is free.

Plant the Seed to Read is a family-friendly event that brings together authors, illustrators, book characters, 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 “Reading Road Trip.” There will be storytelling from special guest readers throughout the D. D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center. Special guests also include storyteller and actor Tim Hartman, author Nancy Roe Pimm, author Nancy K. Wallace and author Paul Orshocki. Children can also visit the Western Reserve PBS booth area to meet and pose for photos with Daniel Tiger and Princess Presto (please bring cameras/smartphones for photos). Strollers are not permitted inside the building during this event – stroller parking will be available. Sign language interpreting will also be available. For more information, call Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.740.7116.

More information about presenting organizations:

• Western Reserve Public Media: http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/

• The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County: http://www.libraryvisit.org/

• Mill Creek MetroParks: http://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/

• Altrusa Club of Youngstown: http://districtfive.altrusa.org/club-locations/ohio-clubs/Youngstown/Youngstown-ClubNews.aspx

 

More information about special guests:

• Tim Hartman: http://www.timhartman.com/

• Paul Orshoski: http://paulorshoski.com/

• Nancy Roe Pimm: http://www.nancyroepimm.com/

• Nancy K. Wallace: http://www.nancykwallace.com

Eighth Annual Plant the Seed to Read Youngstown Area Children’s Book Festival held April 12

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Plant the Seed to Read, the Youngstown Area Children’s Book Festival, will be held Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Mill Creek MetroParks’ Fellows Riverside Gardens. This eighth annual event is presented by Western Reserve Public Media, the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, Mill Creek MetroParks and the Altrusa Club of Youngstown. Admission is free.

Plant the Seed to Read is a family-friendly event that brings together authors, illustrators, book characters, 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 “Reading Road Trip.” There will be storytelling from special guest readers throughout the D. D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center. Special guests also include storyteller and actor Tim Hartman, author Nancy Roe Pimm, author Nancy K. Wallace and author Paul Orshocki. Children can also visit the Western Reserve PBS booth area to meet and pose for photos with Daniel Tiger and Princess Presto (please bring cameras/smartphones for photos). Strollers are not permitted inside the building during this event – stroller parking will be available. Sign language interpreting will also be available. For more information, call Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.740.7116.

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

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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 Thursday, April 10 between 10:30 a.m. – noon.

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 bag 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.

Mill Creek MetroParks Reopens Roads Closed During Winter

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Effective the afternoon of Friday, April 4, the following roads in Mill Creek Park will reopen 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

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Mill Creek MetroParks will hold its annual Farm Animal Baby Shower on Sunday, April 6 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.

Families are encouraged to come anytime between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to meet new arrivals to the MetroParks Farm including triplet goats, twin lambs and bottle baby calf (all born this spring), chicks, ducks, turkeys, geese, 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 Monday through Friday from 9 am – 4 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm – 4 pm through October. Baby animals and their mothers will be here all spring. For more information, please call 330.702.3000 or visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Master Gardener classes begin at Fellows Riverside Gardens

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The Master Gardener Program at Fellows Riverside Gardens, a comprehensive course in horticulture suitable for both beginners and intermediate gardeners, is now underway. Participants will learn about caring for plants within the beautiful setting of Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek MetroParks. Sessions include lectures and hands-on labs on garden design, roses, tree & shrub pruning, herbaceous perennials and many more topics of interest to the home gardener. The program consists of 12 sessions, nine hands-on labs, a take-home final exam and 40 hours volunteer work/practical experience to be completed at Fellows Riverside Gardens. This course runs through October. For more information about attending, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330.740.7116.