Annual Road Improvements

• $625,000.00 cost estimate
• Funded through the Mill Creek MetroParks General Fund for Capital Improvements and the Ohio Parks Districts Roadwork Fund.

East Newport Drive Slope Failure Remediation

• A retaining wall approximately 200 feet in length will be constructed along E Newport Dr between the East Newport Boat Launch and the Daffodil Meadow. The wall will consist of steel beams placed in drilled shafts with precast concrete panels between each steel beam.

Drive Resurfacing

• The East Newport Drive resurfacing project is split into two phases and will be started after the retaining wall has been finished. The first phase being the resurfacing from Shields Road to Kreider’s Entrance on the southern end of the road. The second phase includes the portion from East Newport Drive to Kiwatha Drive at the north end of the road. Items of construction include pavement planning, placement of intermediate and surface courses of asphalt concrete, placing and compacting an aggregate shoulder, and placing pavement markings.

Ford Nature Center: Exhibit Construction and Redevelopment

• $3,500,000.00 cost estimate
• Funded through private philanthropy and the Mill Creek MetroParks General Fund for Capital Improvements.
• Expected timeline of up to 24 months to complete, anticipated reopening in Spring/Summer 2022.
• The renovation of the Ford Nature Center addresses for the needed upgrades that will allow for it to continue as the MetroParks’ primary resource for nature education. The upgrades will elevate the level of the visitor’s experience as well as increase opportunities for more hands-on educational experiences in the form of nature classrooms, learning labs, and exhibits. Renovations and additions will include the newly designed exhibit hall in the basement of the building as well as transforming the garage into an educational building.
• The exhibits to be constructed include aspects such as interpretive wall panels and murals, exhibit structures and enclosures, an interactive map table, mobile exhibit of tree bark identification, electro/mechanical operated features, video/audio features, and computer station for eBird activity. Connecting with nature exhibit topics will cover forests, creeks, wetlands, lakes, our eyes/their eyes, and animal homes. Other exhibit topics will include the house history, bird observation, and Volney Rogers.

Annual Parking Lot Improvements

Ford Nature Center Parking Lot & Wick Maintenance Facility Parking Lot

• $200,000.00 cost estimate
• Funded through the Mill Creek MetroParks General Fund for Capital Improvements
• Approximate start date of August 2021
• Located at the Ford Nature Center (FNC) parking lot on Old Furnace Road and the Wick Recreation Area Maintenance Facility parking lot on Bears Den Drive. The main aspect to these projects is the installation of new asphalt pavement overlays, new concrete walks and curbs, and new permeable pavers. The FNC component also includes a dedicated trail connection to the East Cohasset hike & bike trail.

Annual Trail Improvements

• $125,000.00 cost estimate
• Project to be completed in Summer 2021.
• Funded through the Mill Creek MetroParks General Fund for Capital Improvements
• MetroParks Bikeway Improvements
  • Herbert Road to Kirk Road and Westbury Park Spur Trail will be improved upon. The main work to be done is comprised of cleaning and surface preparation, treatment of existing cracks, full-depth pavement repair, pavement planing, application of tack coat, installation of pavement reinforcement mesh, installation of asphalt overlay, and furnishing and placing topsoil and compacted aggregate along shoulders.

Wick Warming House Renovations

• $800,000.00 cost estimate
• Funded through the Mill Creek MetroParks General Fund for Capital Improvements
• Anticipated start date in 2021.
• Rehabilitation of the existing warming house into a public space with reservable rooms, restrooms, concessions, retail space, and office space. Located at Wick Recreation Area. Interior and exterior demolition, interior construction, site grading, site utilities, and concrete pavement will all be the main project components.

Outdoor Education Center Construction

  Fellows Riverside Gardens Outdoor Education Building

• $400,000.00 cost estimate
• Funded through the Mill Creek MetroParks General Fund for Capital Improvements, Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens, and Commercial InterTech Foundation.
• Completed by December 2021.
• Located at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park. Construction of a new, multi-faceted outdoor education building will be the main attraction. Other work such as site grading, site utilities, excavation, embankment, storm drainage, and concrete pavement will be completed.

E. Park Hike & Bike Trail Development

• $170,000.00 cost estimate
• 80% ($136,000) funded by ODOT through the Transportation Alternates Program (TAP) funds and the remaining 20% ($34,000) will be provided by the MetroParks.
• Anticipated to begin in 2021
• Located in Mill Creek Park parallel to East Park Drive about 0.15-miles north of Canfield Road (US-62). Construction includes grading and excavation, placement of aggregate base, berming, seeding, and mulching.
• This project will complete the 0.5 mile East Park Hike & Bike Trail, as well as the 7-mile bike/pedestrian facility in Mill Creek Park between US-224 and the Ford Nature Center.