Mill Creek MetroParks will host the Youngstown State University Invitational Cross Country Meet on The Gorby Family Championship Cross Country Course at the MetroParks Farm on Saturday, September 26, 2026. This exciting event will bring athletes, families, and supporters together for a day of outdoor activity and healthy competition.
To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, several MetroParks Farm facilities will be temporarily closed from dawn until mid-afternoon on the day of the event. These include:
Education Building
MetroParks Bikeway (closed between Leffingwell Road and Route 446)
MetroParks Farm Parking Lot
MetroParks Farm Bikeway Spur Trail
Disc Golf Courses
Mindy Henning Hiking Trail
Animal Barns
Archery Range
Natural Playground
Recycling Area
Parking lot access will be maintained for cross-country event personnel and spectators.
All facilities will reopen to the public in the afternoon following the conclusion of the event. Mill Creek MetroParks thanks visitors for their cooperation and encourages the community to come cheer on the athletes or plan their visit for later in the day.
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2026-09-24 13:08:292026-09-24 13:08:29Mill Creek MetroParks to Host Cross Country Event on September 26
Controlled deer hunting is entering its fourth season despite continued vocal opposition.
The hunting is part of an effort to manage the amount of white-tailed deer in Mill Creek MetroParks.
Controlled archery hunting starts Sunday, September 27, and will run through November 21.
The hunts will take place in nine different locations: Collier Preserve, Hawkins Marsh, Huntington Woods, MetroParks Farm, George L. Fordyce Park East and West, Sawmill Creek Preserve, Springfield Forest, Vickers Nature Preserve and Hitchcock Woods.
The hunt will be extended to December 26 at Hitchcock Woods and Huntington Woods.
Controlled hunts at the MetroParks started in 2023. While the practice has prompted fierce opposition, the park’s natural resources manager said it’s working.
“We want to look at more than just the number of deer that were harvested. So we do a variety of surveys, such as a trail camera survey, drone survey and we also look at the effects of deer browsing on forest regeneration. So we have seen some encouraging results,” said Rachel Sobnosky, Mill Creek MetroParks Natural Resources Manager. “We have seen some success when it comes to forest regeneration and new seedlings popping up, there are still some pretty distinct browse lines in the forest. But, it looks like those are starting to get a little bit better.”
Throughout the three years of controlled hunting at Mill Creek MetroParks, nearly 400 deer have been killed. The number of deer being harvested each year is decreasing.
“Over the last three years, we have seen a reduction each year in the total number of deer harvested. So we do see encouraging results, and we do a number of different surveys to look at deer population as well as impacts to the habitat,” said Sobnosky.
The selected hunters can harvest up to nine white-tailed deer. Each hunter is required to have a permit by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and can bring one partner per day.
Mill Creek MetroParks has two pages of rules and regulations that need to be followed, which prohibits baiting and trail cameras.
“All hunters have to have a hunting license through Division of Wildlife, so they’ve all gone through a hunter safety course, and they’re all adhering to the rules. Anytime any rules are broken, we do get police as well as Division of Wildlife involved to enforce those rules,” said Sobnosky.
Archery hunting cannot be done in “No Hunting Zones” or within 100-feet of a walking trail to ensure public safety.
“All of the facilities that are participating in this hunt will remain open to the public. We just want the public to be aware that it’s going on,” said Sobnosky. “We also want people to know that it’s safe to continue using these facilities during the hunting program.”
While the areas are open to the public, signage will be posted at parking lot entrances to notify visitors of the hunt.
Gun hunts will take place at Collier Preserve, Hawkins Marsh, George L. Fordyce Park East and West, Sawmill Creek Preserve, Springfield Forest and Vickers Nature Preserve.
The gun hunts will be during every weekend starting November 28, and ending December 27. Properties will be closed to the public during gun hunts.
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2026-09-23 10:16:132026-09-23 15:04:26Controlled deer hunting returning to Mill Creek MetroParks
Roughly eight months after Mill Creek Metroparks announced capital improvements, including a new lodge at Vickers Nature Preserve, work is well underway.
The lodge is intended to function similarly to other Mill Creek facilities, offering private rentals for equestrian programs or events plus any Metroparks educational programming.
In March, Mill Creek Metroparks posted a look at the lodge’s progress on Facebook, offering a sneak peek at the facility.
According to officials at Mill Creek, current site work at Vickers Nature Preserve includes soil grading, landscaping preparations, paving work and finalizing utility services for the lodge.
No opening date or official timeline for the end of the project has been announced just yet but 21 News is told that Mill Creek will have a better idea of a solid completion date in roughly a month.
https://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.png00Mill Creek MetroParks Staffhttps://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mcmp-header.pngMill Creek MetroParks Staff2026-09-23 10:13:562026-09-23 10:13:56Construction continues at Vickers Nature Preserve, lodge opening date unclear
Mill Creek MetroParks to Host Cross Country Event on September 26
/in Closures, Press Releases/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffMill Creek MetroParks will host the Youngstown State University Invitational Cross Country Meet on The Gorby Family Championship Cross Country Course at the MetroParks Farm on Saturday, September 26, 2026. This exciting event will bring athletes, families, and supporters together for a day of outdoor activity and healthy competition.
To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, several MetroParks Farm facilities will be temporarily closed from dawn until mid-afternoon on the day of the event. These include:
Parking lot access will be maintained for cross-country event personnel and spectators.
All facilities will reopen to the public in the afternoon following the conclusion of the event. Mill Creek MetroParks thanks visitors for their cooperation and encourages the community to come cheer on the athletes or plan their visit for later in the day.
Controlled deer hunting returning to Mill Creek MetroParks
/in Media Coverage/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffControlled deer hunting is entering its fourth season despite continued vocal opposition.
The hunting is part of an effort to manage the amount of white-tailed deer in Mill Creek MetroParks.
Controlled archery hunting starts Sunday, September 27, and will run through November 21.
The hunts will take place in nine different locations: Collier Preserve, Hawkins Marsh, Huntington Woods, MetroParks Farm, George L. Fordyce Park East and West, Sawmill Creek Preserve, Springfield Forest, Vickers Nature Preserve and Hitchcock Woods.
The hunt will be extended to December 26 at Hitchcock Woods and Huntington Woods.
Controlled hunts at the MetroParks started in 2023. While the practice has prompted fierce opposition, the park’s natural resources manager said it’s working.
“We want to look at more than just the number of deer that were harvested. So we do a variety of surveys, such as a trail camera survey, drone survey and we also look at the effects of deer browsing on forest regeneration. So we have seen some encouraging results,” said Rachel Sobnosky, Mill Creek MetroParks Natural Resources Manager. “We have seen some success when it comes to forest regeneration and new seedlings popping up, there are still some pretty distinct browse lines in the forest. But, it looks like those are starting to get a little bit better.”
Throughout the three years of controlled hunting at Mill Creek MetroParks, nearly 400 deer have been killed. The number of deer being harvested each year is decreasing.
“Over the last three years, we have seen a reduction each year in the total number of deer harvested. So we do see encouraging results, and we do a number of different surveys to look at deer population as well as impacts to the habitat,” said Sobnosky.
The selected hunters can harvest up to nine white-tailed deer. Each hunter is required to have a permit by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and can bring one partner per day.
Mill Creek MetroParks has two pages of rules and regulations that need to be followed, which prohibits baiting and trail cameras.
“All hunters have to have a hunting license through Division of Wildlife, so they’ve all gone through a hunter safety course, and they’re all adhering to the rules. Anytime any rules are broken, we do get police as well as Division of Wildlife involved to enforce those rules,” said Sobnosky.
Archery hunting cannot be done in “No Hunting Zones” or within 100-feet of a walking trail to ensure public safety.
“All of the facilities that are participating in this hunt will remain open to the public. We just want the public to be aware that it’s going on,” said Sobnosky. “We also want people to know that it’s safe to continue using these facilities during the hunting program.”
While the areas are open to the public, signage will be posted at parking lot entrances to notify visitors of the hunt.
Gun hunts will take place at Collier Preserve, Hawkins Marsh, George L. Fordyce Park East and West, Sawmill Creek Preserve, Springfield Forest and Vickers Nature Preserve.
The gun hunts will be during every weekend starting November 28, and ending December 27. Properties will be closed to the public during gun hunts.
Read the original article at WFMJ.
Construction continues at Vickers Nature Preserve, lodge opening date unclear
/in Media Coverage/by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffRoughly eight months after Mill Creek Metroparks announced capital improvements, including a new lodge at Vickers Nature Preserve, work is well underway.
The lodge is intended to function similarly to other Mill Creek facilities, offering private rentals for equestrian programs or events plus any Metroparks educational programming.
In March, Mill Creek Metroparks posted a look at the lodge’s progress on Facebook, offering a sneak peek at the facility.
According to officials at Mill Creek, current site work at Vickers Nature Preserve includes soil grading, landscaping preparations, paving work and finalizing utility services for the lodge.
No opening date or official timeline for the end of the project has been announced just yet but 21 News is told that Mill Creek will have a better idea of a solid completion date in roughly a month.
Read the original article at WFMJ.