First established in 1917, Cleveland Metroparks has been a pioneer in the parks and recreation field since its inception. Hear from lead park historian Judy MacKeigan on park founder William Stinchcomb, turbulent and exuberant times for the Park District over the past century and unique finds, anecdotes and artifacts she’s uncovered over the past 15 years.
Judy MacKeigan served as Cleveland Metroparks first historian and archivist from 2010 until her retirement in 2025. In her role, she led efforts to research, preserve, and share the rich history of the Park District. She was the lead author and editor of The 100 Year Trail: A Centennial Celebration of Cleveland Metroparks that was published in 2017 to commemorate Cleveland Metroparks first century of stewardship. Judy also played a key role on the Centennial Celebration steering committee. She holds a Master of Arts in History from Cleveland State University.