Work on the eastbound lane of the turnpike near Kirk Road finished last week, and along with it, the structural work to the south-facing facade of a culvert for the Mill Creek MetroParks bike trail also was finished.

The $6.3 million project is funded through the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, which gets its income from tolls paid to use the 241-mile road, said turnpike spokesperson Brian Newbacher. The culvert replaces the turnpike bridge near Kirk Road, and makes way for an established section of the Mill Creek MetroParks bike trail, which is part of the larger Lake to River Western Reserve Greenway Bike Trail that runs from the Ohio River in East Liverpool to Lake Erie in Ashtabula.

“The turnpike contacted the MetroParks about the removal of the bridge,” said Mill Creek MetroParks Planning and Operations Director Stephen Avery. “They involved us from the beginning.”

He said the MetroParks and turnpike collaborated on the design and detail of the tunnel’s two identical concrete facades that when completed will resemble real rock like the kind used in structures at the Kirk Road trailhead.

Standing in front of the structurally complete facade under the eastbound turnpike traffic, Avery explained four colors of stain will give the concrete surface a natural rock look. He said a black keystone will be inlaid above the center of the tunnel, and in-set words reading “MetroParks Bikeway,” also will be inlaid with black to make them stand out.

Newbacher said although turnpike workers maintain all turnpike bridges, it was important to include the MetroParks in the design.

“We wanted to be a good neighbor and involve them in the project,” Newbacher said.

The turnpike commission also provided a paved, just more than a quarter-mile detour for MetroParks trail users. Avery said he believes part of the detour will remain in place when construction on the culvert is finished, mainly for turnpike maintenance. The part of the detour that connects to the bike trail will be torn up, he said.

A MetroParks counting device located several miles south of Kirk Road tallied about 83,000 trail users over the course of a year — averaging to about 227 per day. Avery said he believes the daily use of the Kirk Road trailhead is much higher than that number, as it is a popular place for cyclists and walkers to begin.

Newbacher said the culvert project has been part of the turnpike’s capital improvement project for the past two seasons.

“We looked at different options with that location because the bridge itself was becoming a problem for our maintenance crews, and this became the best option,” Newbacher said.

The move from bridge to culvert will mean less future maintenance on the structure and a long-term cost savings.

The project, which began in spring of last year, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Full article at vindy.com

The Mill Creek Park hosted their first Nature Live event on Aug. 4 at the MetroParks Farms.

Education Manager Mandy Smith organized the event with the rest of the education team.

“We as a group decided to kind of combine forces and make it a little bit more nature oriented instead of just one animal or group of animals,” Smith said.

She explained that the event was usually a bug or reptile day, but that the parks decided to combine all of the events into one that focused on a wider range of animals.

Smith said that at the event a number of organizations were present to showcase their animals.

Bee keeper Don Kovach, Birds of Flight, representatives from the South Side Butterfly event, and Keith Gisser with Herpes Alive were all present at the event.

“We are just promoting education, conservation of nature, awareness and appreciation,” Smith said. “It’s just a day to come out and enjoy.”

The event featured a number of actives for children of all ages.

Smith said that there was a room dedicated to Pre-K children being able to play and explore different types of animals.

The event also featured a touch table where community members can feel different types of fur and animal skulls.

A number of reptiles were available for children to hold, and there was even a honey tasting table.

“Anyone can come in,” Smith said. “We just want everyone to come and learn something and enjoy the farm.”

As they entered children received an activity card.

Smith said that if they completed five of the eight available activities and mark them on the card they receive a naturalist diploma to take home.

The barns at the MetroParks Farms were also open for community members to explore on their visit.

Full article at vindy.com

The Dividing Sycamore Bridge in Mill Creek Park will close to traffic for roadway construction work Monday.

The closure will include a section of Bears Den Drive between West Drive and Cross Drive. The work is a component of the MetroParks’ capital improvement project to rehabilitate the historic sandstone bridge. The bridge and roadway will remain closed and inaccessible for about seven weeks.

All Mill Creek Park facilities near the project site, including Lower Bears Den Picnic Area, will remain open and accessible throughout the duration of the project. Previously scheduled races and events that require use of the bridge will not be impacted.

Full article at vindy.com

In early July, Mill Creek MetroParks commissioners decided park employees would now operate and maintain the Vickers Nature Preserve, ending 25 years of the preserve being run by a group known as the Buckeye Horse Park.

One month later, MetroParks administrators are already looking to the future and developing a master plan for Vickers.

Thursday afternoon at the Vickers Nature Preserve, located along Route 224 west, Brienna Donaldson and Houston Burbridge, both of Austintown, saddled up their horses for an afternoon ride.

“It’s a nice place. It’s close. It’s convenient,” Burbridge said.

“The trails could be marked a little bit better, they get confusing when you’re on them,” Donaldson said.

“Do we want to keep each and every component? Do we want to change it? Do we want to upgrade it? Do we want to renovate?” asked Steve Avery, director of planning and operations for Mill Creek MetroParks.

Avery is responsible for putting together the master plan for the Vickers Nature Preserve of the future. He already has several ideas.

“We have a pond… well, let’s let fishing in here — there’s a recreational use that we can have happen like that. And if we add a dock or a fishing pier, that actually improves accessibility,” he said.

Avery wants new restrooms, especially since the lone restroom at Vickers is an outhouse. Another possibility is a playground with an equestrian theme. He would also like to build a second pavilion on site.

“So you could just come, ‘Hey, I just want to come here with my family,’ and rent that. I don’t want to rent the ring — yeah, you could do that,” Avery said.

But the ring, the barns and everything else horses can be rented, too.

Although there were no big horse shows this year, there could be some in the future, just like there were in the past.

Donaldson suggests creating areas for advanced riders.

“Different obstacles, like, different things that the horses can do, like bridges, maybe some water they can cross over, something to make them think a little bit about what they’re going to do,” she said.

Currently, Vickers is geared toward horses, which will continue to be the focus. But it could change, at least a little bit.

“I mean, we’re not going to put a soccer complex here. So you gotta think through some things and play off what you already have,” Avery said.

Avery has no timetable yet for when any work would get done.

Mill Creek has some drawings of what’s being proposed on its website and is also looking for public comments on the Vickers master plan, which must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 13.

Full article at wkbn.com