Mill Creek MetroParks reflects on 2025 capital improvements
Mill Creek MetroParks is looking back at the capital improvements of the 2025 fiscal year and looking ahead at future endeavors.
Justin Rogers, Director of Planning and Operations at Mill Creek MetroParks, presented the year's review during a Board of Park Commissioners meeting on Monday, December 8.
Some items of note in the presentation were improvements to the Slippery Rock Bridge, George L. Fordyce Park and the Lanterman's Mill site.
The improvements to the Slippery Rock Bridge included work such as historic preservation, vehicle and pedestrian traffic and improved stormwater management. Additionally, several proposed improvements were discussed, including rehabilitated concrete sidewalks, waterproofing and decking.
For the year, the budget for annual improvements was $480,000, which was funded approximately 80% through a federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant.
Improvements made to the Lanterman's Mill site included entrance and deck repair, temporary improvements to the upper dam and repairs to the East Gorge Boardwalk and Canfield Road steps.
The budget that was allotted for the improvements came to $10,000, which was 100% funded through Mill endowment funds.
Budgeted in the 2025 improvement plan for $220,000 were improvements to the George L. Fordyce Park, which Youngstown State University (YSU) students and volunteers recently planted trees within.
Accessibility and habitat improvements were outlined in the presentation, featuring an improved entry drive and parking lot with better accessibility and connectivity to the hiking trail network.
A Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant helped pay for $155,000 of the project.
Overall, Rogers says that the year was a success, helping them achieve their goal of enhancing the parks.
"When we have a drive improvement project, or parking lots or trails, or managing stormwater in a different way, those impacts show to all of our park patrons [and] all of our park users and create a better, safer experience," said Rogers.
