CELEBRATE THE 93rd ANNIVERSARY OF CLEVELAND METROPARKS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

JULY 13, 2010      

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

BOB ROTATORI

216-635-3263

 

July 23, 2010 marks the 93rd Anniversary of Cleveland
Metroparks. 

 

To recognize this milestone, Greater Clevelanders can celebrate the
Park District in their own special style or in any of the 93 ways
listed below:

• start your day in the park viewing a spectacular sunrise
  
  � take a leisurely walk through any of the 16 reservations:
  Bedford, Big Creek, Bradley Woods, Brecksville, Brookside,
  Euclid Creek, Garfield Park, Hinckley, Huntington, Mill Stream
  Run, North Chagrin, Ohio & Erie Canal, Rocky River, South
  Chagrin, Washington, and West Creek
  
  � visit one of the five outdoor education
  facilities:  
  
  Brecksville, Garfield Park, North Chagrin, & Rocky River nature
  centers, & CanalWay Center
  
  � see the beautiful, new Lake to Lake Trail in Big Creek
  Reservation - a 2.4-mile trail through wetlands over
  boardwalks and paved trails, connecting Lake Abram and Lake
  Isaac
  
  � take a kid fishing at one of the many favorite fishing spots
  within the Park District
  
  � swing into one of the seven great golf courses:  Manakiki,
  Sleepy Hollow, Shawnee Hills, Big Met, Little Met, Mastick
  Woods, and Washington golf courses
  
  � join Cleveland Metroparks on Facebook and follow us on
  Twitter
  
  � sign up for one the many Institute of the Great Outdoors (IGO)
  classes and great adventure trips
  
  � have a picnic at one of more than 70 picnic areas
  
  � spend the day at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
  
  � walk your dog (on a leash, of course!)
  
  � visit the park via the website - www.clevelandmetroparks.com
  
  � hit the beaches at Huntington Beach, HinckleyLake and WallaceLake
  - and especially enjoy the "Summer Beach Party" at
  Huntington (August 7)
  
  � have a family reunion at one of the reserved group picnic
  facilities
  
  � smell the wildflowers (but, don't pick them!)
  
  � donate to Cleveland Metroparks Legacy Fund or the Emerald
  Necklace Endowment Fund - and help protect and preserve green
  space and the future of Cleveland Metroparks
  
  � wander the Park District's newest 'gem' -West Creek Reservation
  in Parma
  
  � attend one of the many naturalist-led outdoor education programs
  - over 100 a month to choose
  
  � take a shot in the dark and play Moonlight Golf (August 13,
  August 20 and September 24)
  
  � find a quiet spot and meditate
  
  � visit the beautiful chestnut log Look About Lodge in South
  Chagrin Reservation
  
  � jog or walk on any of the all purpose trails
  
  � discover the tallest waterfall in the county - Mill Creek Falls
  of Garfield Park Reservation
  
  � greet a ranger on foot, horseback, bike, or cruiser, or say 'hi'
  to the K-9 rangers, Radar & Rocky
  
  � paddle the 34-foot Voyageur Canoe with Serge the Voyageur and his
  crew
  
  � go on the "Hear Here!" self-guided audio driving tour
  through November - this year featuring four cool sites along
  the new Lake to Lake Trail in Big Creek Reservation.
  
  � shop at one of the three EarthWords Nature Shops (at CanalWay
  Center, North Chagrin Nature Center and Rocky River Nature
  Center)
  
  � enjoy a snack at the great, environmentally-friendly Clubhouse at
  Big Met Golf Course
  
  � admire the diverse wildlife and plantlife abundant throughout the
  Park District
  
  � ride a bike
  
  � grill your favorite foods on one of the many picnic area
  grills
  
  � enjoy a pleasure drive on the more than 100 miles of parkways
  
  � eat a bug at the 20th Anniversary of a truly 'buggy' event -
  "Bug City" (August 14) at Garfield Park
  Reservation
  
  � go swimming in the heated Ledge Pool in Hinckley Reservation, or
  join in at a Dive-In Movie
  
  � wander through Olmsted Historical Society's Frostville Museum in
  Rocky River Reservation
  
  � hike some of the hundreds of miles of hiking trails
  
  � see the dramatic Tinker's Creek Gorge - a National Natural
  Landmark - in Bedford Reservation
  
  � visit the planetarium at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in
  Huntington Reservation
  
  � sketch a nature scene
  
  � plan an early morning breakfast in the park with your friends
  
  � visit the Strongsville Wildlife Area in Mill Stream Run to learn
  more about wetlands
  
  � climb Whipp's Ledges in Hinckley Reservation (with a permit!)
  
  � discover the awesome reptile world at one of the newest Park
  District events - Snakes, Turtles & Fun! (August 21) at
  The Shelterhouse Picnic Area in South Chagrin Reservation
  
  � sign-up for the fall season's inspiring and moving "Escape
  on the Underground Railroad" program, an award-winning,
  interactive program
  
  � take a self-guided tour of eight historic sites using the
  "Parkways to the Past" brochure or log on to
  clevelmandmetroparks.com and get the podcast of the tour
  
  � visit the Zoo and get 'The Scoop on Poop' through a special
  exhibit through September
  
  � travel the Towpath Trail and see glimpses of the varied past
  along the Ohio & Erie Canal
  
  � throw a Frisbee
  
  � just relax and feel nature all around you
  
  � volunteer at the nature centers or other areas of the Park
  District - and help make a difference!
  
  � attend a play at Huntington Playhouse
  
  � sign-up for a bird-watching program - the fastest-growing
  recreational leisure activity
  
  � learn a new angling skill at a fishing clinic, or read the latest
  fishing blog on the website
  
  � experience Cleveland Metroparks on in-line skates
  
  � start making plans for a trip, locally, to view the awesome
  beautiful fall colors
  
  � take a golf lesson through Cleveland Metroparks "Academy of
  Golf," or watch how to golf a few holes at some of the
  courses through video podcasts on the website
  
  � go fly a kite
  
  � discover the night skies, stars and nocturnal wildlife through
  nighttime programs and hikes, including the "Nature at
  Night" event at North Chagrin Nature Center (July 24)
  
  � see the internationally-known buzzards of Hinckley
  
  � walk the entire solar system on the Solar System Trail in Rocky
  River Reservation
  
  � relax with special summer outdoor music concerts on the lawn at
  Look About Lodge, and through Lawnchair Concerts at Brookside
  Reservation
  
  � rent a paddleboat at Wallace Lake in Mill Stream Run
  Reservation
  
  � sign-up for one of the many golf special events, including the
  17th Annual Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship
  
  � take an art class at BAYarts in Huntington Reservation
  
  � test your endurance on the physical fitness trails located in a
  number of the reservations
  
  � take riding lessons or have a pony party at Brecksville Stables
  or Rocky River Stables
  
  � take a walk on the Forbes Woods Ridge Trail of Bedford
  Reservation, and learn more about the area's farming past and
  admire the beauty of the present!
  
  � listen to nationally-known musicians Missy Raines & the New
  Hip and Crooked Still at the "Cedar Valley Settlers
  Celebration & Music Festival" event (September 19)
  
  � participate in one of the many canoe or kayak adventures offered
  through IGO
  
  � ride your horse on one of the many bridle trails  (please
  use designated trails)
  
  � enjoy ice cream treats from one of the concession stands in the
  park
  
  � enjoy a s'more or two around a campfire at an evening outdoor
  education program
  
  � travel to The RainForest via Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
  
  � hit a long ball at one of the three golf driving ranges (at
  Sleepy Hollow, Shawnee Hills and Washington)
  
  � enjoy a leisurely hayride at the Chalet Recreation Area - and
  enjoy the square dancing fun, too
  
  � sing along with our own Foster Brown, recording artist and
  Parent's Choice award winner
  
  � visit the Squire Rich Home & Museum of the Brecksville
  Historical Society
  
  � dock your boat at the Emerald Necklace Marina for lunch at
  Sweetwater Landing
  
  � discover Hinckley Historical Society's Worden Heritage Homestead
  and Worden's Ledges
  
  � enjoy a day with 'man's best friend' - swimming and being
  pampered at the "Dog Paddle & More" event at
  Ledge Pool in Hinckley Reservation (August 29)
  
  � join the Cleveland Zoological Society
  
  � learn about Cleveland's industrial history at CanalWay Center in
  Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation
  
  � take a water-testing exploration on-board the Floating Water Lab
  pontoon boat at Hinckley Lake
  
  � enjoy a polo match or a horse show at the Polo Fields in South
  Chagrin Reservation
  
  � join the Walking Works program and take a walk for your health
  while exploring nature
  
  � take part in an international phenomenon - geocaching, and find a
  cache in the park
  
  � unearth a new nature find on one of the many naturalist-led walks
  and hikes
  
  � splendor in the beauty of nature through quilts at the
  "Reflections of Nature" Quilt Show (November 13
  & 14) at John J. Donnelly Rocky River Nature Center
  
  � buy season passes to the twin, refrigerated Chalet Toboggan
  Chutes in Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville - and
  ride the only public ice chutes in Ohio all winter long!
  
  � become inspired and write nature poems
  
  � spend the day taking photographs of your favorite nature scenes,
  and, then, enter the North Chagrin Nature Photography
  Contest  - with selected photos on exhibit on October 16 &
  17 at North Chagrin Nature Center
  
  � sign-up to receive Cleveland Metroparks monthly publication, the
  Emerald Necklace
  
  � be awestruck by another glorious sunset in the Park District!
  
   
  
  The Park District was established July 23, 1917 to provide open
  space for the people of Greater Cleveland, as well as to preserve
  the natural valleys of the area. 
  
   
  
  Today - 93 years later, Cleveland Metroparks consists of over
  21,000 acres in 16 reservations, their connecting parkways and
  Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which encircle the Greater Cleveland area
  like an "Emerald Necklace."  Over 100 miles of
  parkways provide driving pleasure and easy access to Cleveland
  Metroparks facilities and areas, including:  picnic areas and
  playfields; wildlife and waterfowl management areas; hiking,
  bridle, physical fitness, and all purpose trails; swimming, boating
  and fishing areas; sledding, skating, and cross-country skiing
  areas; seven outdoor education facilities; seven golf courses and
  three driving ranges; twin ice toboggan chutes; a variety of
  affiliate organizations; and the Zoo.
  
   
  
  For more information on Cleveland Metroparks, call 216-635-3200 or
  visit clevelandmetroparks.com.
  
   
  
  Celebrate 93 years of conservation, education and recreation
  through any or all of the listed activities or any of your own, and
  enjoy Cleveland Metroparks - part of your life, naturally!
  
   
  
  -30-
  
   
  
  Cleveland Metroparks - 93 Years Of Conservation,
  Education & Recreation