Mill Creek MetroParks to hold “Super” weekend of events

20140130_12245420140130_103844

While most may be anxiously looking forward to spring, Mother Nature’s recent unseasonably cold temperatures have given Mill Creek MetroParks a unique opportunity. For the first time since 1990, bodies of water in the MetroParks have frozen to the thickness safe enough to allow Mill Creek MetroParks to provide an outdoor skating experience to visitors.

Mill Creek MetroParks will host supervised ice skating at the Lily Pond beginning this Saturday, February 1. Hours for this weekend will be Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. If conditions allow, supervised skating will continue next weekend on Friday, February 7 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. and will continue on Fridays from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. through February 23. Benches and a fire pit will be provided for the convenience of those not hitting the ice or those who need to rest or warm up. Interested skaters are asked to please bringskates as no skate rental will be available.

Ice skating on the Lily Pond is only one of many “super” activities happening throughout Mill Creek MetroParks this Super Bowl weekend. On Saturday, February 1, start at Wick Recreation Area for Cabin Fever Fest, including the Chili Cook-Off, beginning at noon. Take a ride down Sled Hill and participate in fun winter games and competitions. Warm up inside the Warming House by sampling chili and vote for the Spiciest, Most Colorful, and Overall Best. Next, head to the Lily Pond and experience skating outdoors for the first time in almost 25 years. If outdoor activities aren’t your thing, experience the spirit of the tropics at Fellows Riverside Gardens for the Jewels of Winter: Orchid Show, opening February 1. Observe the exotic beauty of orchids on display throughout the D. D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center. Or, head to the Ford Nature Center to hear Bill Whitehouse discuss photography slides from his career at Mill Creek MetroParks. On Sunday, attend the MetroMutts: Resource Guarding program at Fellows Riverside Gardens from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., then come out for our Super Sunday hike and enjoy a brisk walk around the Mill Creek Golf Course at 2 p.m. No matter your preference, there’s something for everyone this weekend and throughout the entire year at Mill Creek MetroParks.

For questions and more information about ice skating on the Lily Pond, call Mill Creek MetroParks at 330.702.3000. For more information about Cabin Fever Fest, the Jewels of Winter Orchid Show and other MetroParks activities, visit our website at www.millcreekmetroparks.org.