The Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation’s American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Junior All-Star Event took place the week of June 16, 2019 at Mill Creek Golf Course. The tournament hosted 132 junior competitors, including six junior players who earned their spot in a Sunday regional qualifying event from a field of 100 players. Over 150+ volunteers, 37 college coaches from all over the United States, and a dozen staff and interns from the AJGA were also in attendance at the 2019 tournament. Sophia Sarrazin of Westport, Connecticut was the female champion coming in at one over par and Jackson Finney of Louisville, Kentucky was the male champion with a score of seven under par for the week.
The AJGA tournament had an economic impact in the Mahoning Valley of $358,458.00 in 2019 and a three year total of $1,486,472.00 since its inception in 2016. This impact includes lodging for families and AJGA representatives, car rentals, dining, and entertainment spending. In addition, an $11,000.00 donation was made to the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation and AJGA Ace Grant which came from monies raised for the AJGA tournament and Junior-Amateur event held on the Monday prior to the main event. To date the AJGA event has raised over $43,000.00 for local charities.
Many thanks to the Title Sponsor: The Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation, Presenting Sponsors: Mahoning County Convention & Visitor Bureau, ACDS, and TransAmerica Intern Housing Sponsor: Youngstown State University, as well as multiple area businesses for their hole sponsorships throughout the event week. Mill Creek would also like to thank all the spectators and volunteers who were in attendance for the event as well as this year’s media partners: The Vindicator, WFMJ, WKBN, 1240 WBBW, 570 WKBN for their event coverage.
Mill Creek MetroParks Golf Course, AJGA, and title sponsor The Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation, are currently under contract through 2021 to ensure the event stays in the Mahoning Valley and state of Ohio.
Children explore the magic of plants at Mill Creek Park summer camp
/in Media Coverage /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffMill Creek Metro Parks hosted it’s annual Trekkers Summer Camp for students ages 10-12.
According to Naturalist Lynn Zocolo this year’s theme was Harry Potter’s Herbology and Potions.
“They had a blast,” Zocolo said. “At the end of the week they were all friends.”
During the week children gathered at Fellows Riverside Gardens starting at 9 a.m.
Zocolo said that they had plant and magic based activities planned every day.
“The students were broken into three houses, the oaks, the sassafras and the maples,” Zocolo said. “They competed all week to win the house cup.”
Children spent the week walking through the “enchanted forest,” learning about healing and dangerous plants and event planting their own herb garden.
At the end of the week, Zocolo said that the group spent the final day playing competitive games and celebrating with a feast.
“We spent the whole week learning, so today we are going to take a break from that and focus on having fun,” she said.
The group also celebrated with a trip to the Log Cabin for lunch and a boat ride on Lake Glaicer.
Full article at vindy.com
Notice of August Board Meeting
/in Press Releases /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffThe next Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks is scheduled for Monday, August 12, 2019, at 6 p.m., in McMahon Hall, at the MetroParks Farm, on Rt. 46, in Canfield. The agenda will be available on the website after 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
AJGA Tournament at Mill Creek Golf Course continues to be a Financial Success for Mahoning Valley
/in Press Releases /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffThe Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation’s American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Junior All-Star Event took place the week of June 16, 2019 at Mill Creek Golf Course. The tournament hosted 132 junior competitors, including six junior players who earned their spot in a Sunday regional qualifying event from a field of 100 players. Over 150+ volunteers, 37 college coaches from all over the United States, and a dozen staff and interns from the AJGA were also in attendance at the 2019 tournament. Sophia Sarrazin of Westport, Connecticut was the female champion coming in at one over par and Jackson Finney of Louisville, Kentucky was the male champion with a score of seven under par for the week.
The AJGA tournament had an economic impact in the Mahoning Valley of $358,458.00 in 2019 and a three year total of $1,486,472.00 since its inception in 2016. This impact includes lodging for families and AJGA representatives, car rentals, dining, and entertainment spending. In addition, an $11,000.00 donation was made to the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation and AJGA Ace Grant which came from monies raised for the AJGA tournament and Junior-Amateur event held on the Monday prior to the main event. To date the AJGA event has raised over $43,000.00 for local charities.
Many thanks to the Title Sponsor: The Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation, Presenting Sponsors: Mahoning County Convention & Visitor Bureau, ACDS, and TransAmerica Intern Housing Sponsor: Youngstown State University, as well as multiple area businesses for their hole sponsorships throughout the event week. Mill Creek would also like to thank all the spectators and volunteers who were in attendance for the event as well as this year’s media partners: The Vindicator, WFMJ, WKBN, 1240 WBBW, 570 WKBN for their event coverage.
Mill Creek MetroParks Golf Course, AJGA, and title sponsor The Mahoning Valley Hospital Foundation, are currently under contract through 2021 to ensure the event stays in the Mahoning Valley and state of Ohio.
Nature Live! to be held at the MetroParks Farm
/in Press Releases /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffMill Creek MetroParks is taking a fresh approach on past events once known as Bug Day and the Reptile & Amphibian Show. These two popular events are now rolled into one great nature experience on Sunday, August 4, 2019 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the MetroParks Farm. This free, fun family event gives visitors a hands-on look at the wonders of nature. Get up-close and personal with live reptiles and raptors, learn about plants and insects, and go on a Bio hunt. Crafts, fun activities, and more are included! Nature Live! is sponsored by WFMJ/WBCB and held rain or shine.
For event details, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330.740.7116 or visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org.
Improvement projects set for Mill Creek Park
/in Media Coverage /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffMill Creek MetroParks board of commissioners approved multiple bids for improvement projects in or near the park at a special meeting Wednesday.
Dot Construction Co. of Canfield was selected to complete the restoration of Sycamore Bridge for $210,052. The park also received a Federal Highway Administration grant for the project of about $160,000.
The improvement project will clean and re-point the stone bridge and protect against erosion.
The board also hired RT Vernal Paving and Excavating of North Lima to complete improvements along the bikeway for $138,277.
The project includes two miles of paving between Western Reserve Road and state Route 446 in Canfield Township.
Full article at vindy.com
Mill Creek Park plans lot closures
/in Media Coverage /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffSeveral parking lots and asphalt surfaces throughout Mill Creek Park will be temporarily closed for the MetroParks annual asphalt sealing and preventive maintenance project.
The work is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, and will continue for several days. Lots will be closed for several days and will reopen once vehicular traffic is permitted. Several of the prominent lots and surfaces scheduled for work include the following:
Birch Hill Cabin
Newport Wetlands – North
Bears Den Cabin
Bears Den Meadow
Bears Den Drive – Picnic
Wick Recreation Area – Ballfield Trail
Lower Slippery Rock
While the lots are closed, the facilities they support will remain open and accessible for public use. This project will not impact rentals and scheduled programming. Please use other parking lots to access these facilities when lots are closed.
In the event of inclement weather, the work schedule will be delayed and adjusted accordingly.
Full article at wfmj.com
New rules at Mill Creek Park expand access to fishing
/in Media Coverage /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffChanges are coming to Mill Creek Park.
Fishers are now allowed to fish at Lake Cohasset without a permit from the park.
They still have to follow the rules for fishing under Ohio’s law.
This is part of the park’s expansion and inclusion vision of adding more at the park.
Park officials hope to make the park more natural and remove signs from certain areas. What they’re hoping is that people respect this new rule and clean up after themselves.
“I think anytime that you can broaden recreational opportunities for people here in the Valley, it’s a positive, and I think in this instance, there were zero potential negative outcomes with regards to the rule change. That’s a win-win for everyone,” said Mill Creek MetroParks Executive Director Aaron Young.
There are some exceptions to this new rule: Fishers still cannot fish in the Lily Pond and some smaller ponds in the park.
Those will still be marked by signs.
Full article at wkbn.com
Mill Creek Park parking lots will be closed for maintenance
/in Media Coverage /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffMultiple parking lots and asphalt surfaces throughout Mill Creek Park will be temporarily closed for the MetroParks annual asphalt sealing and preventive maintenance project.
The work begins Wednesday and will continue for several days. Lots will be closed for several days, and will reopen once vehicular traffic is permitted. Some of the prominent lots and surfaces scheduled for work include Birch Hill Cabin, Newport Wetlands–North, Bears Den Cabin, Bears Den Meadow, Bears Den Drive –Picnic, Wick Recreation Area–Ballfield Trail and Lower Slippery Rock.
While the lots are closed, the facilities they support will remain open and accessible for public use. Rentals and scheduled programming will not be impacted by this project. Use alternate parking lots to access these facilities when lots are closed, says a park news release.
Full article at vindy.com
Mill Creek MetroParks Parking Lot Closures
/in Press Releases /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffMultiple parking lots and asphalt surfaces throughout Mill Creek Park will be temporarily closed for the MetroParks annual asphalt sealing and preventive maintenance project. The work is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, and will continue for several days. Lots will be closed for several days, and will reopen once vehicular traffic is permitted. Several of the prominent lots and surfaces scheduled for work include the following:
– Birch Hill Cabin
– Newport Wetlands – North
– Bears Den Cabin
– Bears Den Meadow
– Bears Den Drive – Picnic
– Wick Recreation Area – Ballfield Trail
– Lower Slippery Rock
While the lots are closed, the facilities they support will remain open and accessible for public use. Rentals and scheduled programming will not be impacted by this project. Please use alternate parking lots to access these facilities when lots are closed.
In the event of inclement weather, the work schedule will be delayed and adjusted accordingly.
Notice of MetroParks Standing Committee Meeting
/in Press Releases /by Mill Creek MetroParks StaffThe Environment Standing Committee to the Board of Park Commissioners, of Mill Creek MetroParks will meet on Friday, July 26, 2019, at 12 o’clock noon, in Classroom A, at the MetroParks Farm.