A Report to the Community BIENNIAL REPORT 2OO6-2OO7

Transcription

1 A Report to the Community BIENNIAL REPRT 26-27

2 R BIE EP NNIAL RT Within Deep Lock Quarry lies Lock 28 which at 17 feet was the Protect and improve the quality of our natural-area parks through effective planning and natural resource management deepest lock on the hio & Erie Canal and an old quarry from which blocks of Berea sandstone were cut to build canal locks and other local structures. Today, discarded mill stones are scattered Implement and continue to update a land acquisition plan that ensures future generations have adequate natural areas for enjoyment along the Quarry Trail, and the wooded park is home to more hio buckeye trees than any other Metro Park in Summit County. Promote an understanding of our natural and cultural heritage for the purpose of instilling a sense of public ownership and personal responsibility Editors: Nathan Eppink Chief of Marketing & Communications Promote an awareness and understanding of the park district s contribution to the community Christine Neill Marketing/Communications Specialist Art Director: Karl Simonson Graphic Designer/Production Coordinator Promote partnerships that enhance the park district s ability to serve the public Printed on New Leaf Imagination 100; 100% post-consumer, processed chlorine-free recycled paper. Effectively utilize employees and volunteers to improve the overall operations of the park district 2

3 The protection of natural resources has been the cornerstone of our mission since the park district was established in As outlined in our five-year strategic plan, adopted in January 2006, our objectives remain constant to this day: provide low-impact, multipurpose parks and facilities that complement the benefits provided by undeveloped, uncluttered, natural open space. The following pages reveal the returns on your Metro Parks investment a small property tax that funds programs, Frances S. Buchholzer, Rainy G. Stitzlein, maintenance, Keith D. Shy and Carol M. Curtis operating costs, capital projects and land acquisition. A few highlights of the last biennium include: Passing an eight-year, 1.46-mill levy Restoring part of Pond Brook in Twinsburg Discovering nearly 100 new populations of rare species Frances S. Buchholzer Rainy G. Stitzlein Carol M. Curtis Retrofitting a former house into green offices to be used by rangers and park biologists in Sand Run Metro Park Forming a Green Team, whose members monitor recycling efforts, the use of alternative fuels and other green initiatives Continued expansion of the hio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Thanks for your continued support of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County. Metro Parks, Serving Summit County 975 Treaty Line Road Akron, hio F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm Seasonal Information Line Program Information Line Volunteer Information Line summitmetroparks.org 3

4 R BIE EP NNIAL RT Award of Excellence (2006) Mobile Information Center redesign Award of Excellence (2006) We re Your Back Yard DVD hio Parks & Recreation Association Award of Distinction (2007) 06 Image Campaign: ads, brochure and postcards ur Mobile Information Center, which is used during programs and events, was updated in Award of Distinction (2007) 06 A Year in the Parks desk calendar Award of Distinction (2007) 07 A Year in the Parks desk calendar Best Place to Volunteer (2007) Metro Parks, Serving Summit County Akron Life & Leisure Magazine Honorable Mention (2007) 06 Fall Hiking Spree commemorative shield Honorable Mention (2007) 06 hio & Erie Canal Towpath tag The park district was named Best Place to Volunteer by readers of Akron Life & Leisure Magazine. Sierra Club Earth Day Award (2007) Keith Shy, director-secretary Portage Trail Group of the Sierra Club Stellar Performer Award (2007) Keith Shy, director-secretary Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP 4 Zenith Award (2006) Fall Hiking Spree Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau

5 CMMUNICATINS From maps and newsletters to brochures, signage and the Web site, Metro Parks strives to keep visitors well informed. Among the highlights: INTERPRETIVE PANELS PPG / Towpath Trail Two panels were produced to highlight the rich history of PPG in Barberton. Alder Pond / Goodyear Heights Metro Park Two panels were designed and fabricated to highlight the native animal and plant species found at Alder Pond. Web site The Web site was redesigned. The new site has a dynamic home page with program listings and a place for news; easier navigation with drop-down menus and search features; an adjustable font size; a contact form for visitor feedback; and real-time checks of shelter/pavilion availability. n ur Ponds is one of two interpretive panels created to describe the wildlife surrounding Alder Pond at Goodyear Heights Metro Park. summitmetroparks.org CUSTMER SERVICE Customer service representatives are the first point of contact when park users call or visit the administrative offices and F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm. ur representatives: Greeted more than 12,500 visitors at the administrative offices and more than 143,000 at the Nature Realm Took 5,000 shelter and pavilion reservations, accommodating more than 268,865 people Sold 3,561 pre-season swim passes Awarded 23,530 Fall Hiking Spree shields and 5,350 Spree For All pins Answered more than 70,000 phone calls Issued 671 special-use permits The administrative offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The visitors center at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. 5

6 R BIE EP NNIAL RT BIKE & HIKE TRAIL Paved the last remaining section of the trail between Young and Norton roads in Stow. Now, after 35 years in operation, all 33.5 miles are completely paved. After Resurfaced the section from SR 59 in Silver Lake to North River Road in Kent The Bike & Hike Trail is now completely paved. Before Constructed a new bridge over Fish Creek (above), between SR 91 and North River Road, to reduce flood damage and the steep approach Completed preliminary studies, required by the National Park Service, to reroute a section of the Bike & Hike Trail, allowing users to bypass traffic on Brandywine Road Repaired a land slip north of SR 303 CASCADE VALLEY METR PARK Repaved the drives and parking lots in the Chuckery and xbow areas Roofs and doors were replaced on restroom buildings DEEP LCK QUARRY METR PARK F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm Visitors Center Re-routed part of the Quarry Trail, allowing safer passage for hikers wanting to see the quarry rim With help from The University of Akron, completed an archaeological inventory to identify historic cultural and natural features F.A. SEIBERLING NATURE REALM Began planning for the renovation of the visitors center and grounds. The new center will be a model of sustainability and an educational tool used to promote conservation; the grounds will reflect our native landscape. 6

7 FIRESTNE METR PARK With help from The University of Akron, completed an archaeological inventory to identify historic cultural and natural features FURNACE RUN METR PARK Removed the skylights from Brushwood Pavilion, made repairs to the roof and replaced the carpeting with recycled carpet GDYEAR HEIGHTS METR PARK n Alder Trail, limestone screenings were added to provide better access for people of all abilities. Brushwood Pavilion at Furnace Run Metro Park HAMPTN HILLS METR PARK Replaced the steps and installed hand rails on Spring Hollow Trail one of the park district s most demanding hikes LIBERTY PARK With help from the Trust for Public Land, acquired 240 acres of pristine wetlands, part of the Pond Brook stream corridor in Twinsburg Township Pond Brook stream restoration Restored 50 percent of the Pond Brook stream channel by adding meanders and riffles, which help increase water flow, remove pollutants and improve habitat MUNRE FALLS METR PARK Acquired the former Summit County Home property from Summit County Government SAND RUN METR PARK Work began and was almost completed on new offices for rangers and park biologists. The building, a former private residence on Sand Run Parkway, is a candidate for Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, which would make it one of the greenest buildings in the state. 7 Green building in Sand Run Metro Park

8 R BIE EP NNIAL RT Construction was completed on a new 25-car parking lot at the corner of Revere Road and Sand Run Parkway, providing much-needed parking on the west end of the Jogging Trail. Part of Mingo Trail was re-routed because of heavy rain and flood damage, and a new bridge was installed. Chip-and-seal was added to stretches of the Jogging Trail where erosion had become a problem. Installed brick pavers at the Wadsworth and ld Portage shelters Made asphalt repairs to the parkway SILVER CREEK Restoration of the 150-year-old dairy barn was completed. Improvements took place over five years and included foundation and structural repairs and a new galvanized, standing-seam metal roof. Installed brick pavers at Pheasant Run Shelter Made asphalt repairs to the parkway TWPATH TRAIL Construction was completed on 0.75 miles of trail, located north of Center Road in New Franklin, on land owned by PPG Industries and leased to Metro Parks. The work included a series of boardwalks and a 50-car parking lot. Construction began on the second phase of the PPG section, which includes 2.3 miles of trail, three boardwalks, three bridges, one railroad underpass and a grade crossing of Snyder Road. 8

9 The section referred to as Cascade Locks / Phase ne was completed, connecting the Mustill Store, at North Street, to SR 59. Provided technical assistance to the Cascade Locks Park Association in developing plans for the Schumacher Mill site, located at the southwest corner of North and Howard streets, next to the Towpath Trail Began construction on the section from Manchester Road to US 224, which will be just over one mile long and include an underpass of Manchester Road Made improvements to the parking lot at Vanderhoof Road The Towpath Trail passes under US 224 (above); the completed Cascade Locks / Phase ne trail (left) CUNTY-WIDE Assisted with updating the six-year-old Summit County Trail & Greenways Plan with officials from the hio & Erie Canalway Coalition, the City of Akron, the Summit County Engineer s office and the National Park Service Coordinated surveys of park boundaries, updated internal records and worked with the Summit County Auditor to name and better identify all Metro Parks parcels Ensured compliance with the hio EPA s new stormwater and pollution management guidelines A rain garden at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm helps reduce stormwater run-off. Blue flag iris and big blue stem are two of the native plants that are part of the rain garden. 9

10 R BIE EP NNIAL RT NATURALIST-LED PRGRAMS Naturalists offered 981 programs during the biennium, serving 52,563 people. Among the highlights: Campfire programs: 1,349 participants Naturalists hosted a variety of campfire programs at the Nature Realm, with storytellers, musicians, searches for nocturnal animals and more. Exhibit: Cherokee Artist Edwin George ne of the most popular exhibits ever held at the Nature Realm was for Cherokee artist Edwin George, whose paintings were displayed in the auditorium in George inspired a whole season of programming, from concerts and campfires to games and other American Indian-related activities. Global Warming Series: 105 participants (estimated) A month-long series of climate change programs was offered in November It featured guest speakers and local experts, and naturalists provided related programming. Guided School Walks: 3,728 participants School groups visited the Nature Realm for naturalistled hikes and programs about a variety of seasonal topics. Spider by Edwin George Hobo Weekends: 1,531 participants Hobo culture was interpreted each summer through a train ride, campfire program and hobo-related activities at the temporary Hobo Jungle, or campsite, at Deep Lock Quarry. Hobo Weekends gave visitors the chance to hop a train to the hobo camp at Deep Lock Quarry. Kids Fishing Club: 831 participants Children 15 and younger learned new skills and then fished at the stocked Little Turtle Pond, weather permitting. Kinderealm: 3,964 participants Pre-school children and their adult companions visited the Nature Realm to learn about the natural world. Programs typically included a brief story, an outdoor walk and a fun takehome craft. A new topic was offered each month. 10