Spring at Portage Parks

Happy Spring

Save the Date

Saturday, July 13, 2013 Headwaters jpg logo

Run Pedal and Paddle for trails and watershed conservation!

Registration opens in June

Partners in Nature

Who's Your Mama?
Earth Day Fest, Kent

April 20th 11-5:00 Main Street

More information

Friends of the Field Station

Spring Bird Walks

(sponsored by the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland)

Sundays April 14 through May 19, 2013 (7:30am)

Join local naturalist Eric Faber and other birding enthusiasts at 7:30 am for a casual walk around the Field Station. For more information, please call Matt Sorrick at 330.569.6003 or sorrickmw@hiram.edu.

River Day

Saturday May 18th

Check out their website for a River Day event schedule and a listing of paddling outings on the Cuyahoga River in 2013.

Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association

This new organization was formed to assist in the stewardship of Ohio's unique natural areas More information

Native Plant Society of Northeast Ohio

Check out their website to learn about our native wildflowers and guided nature hikes here

THANKS!

Asplundh Tree Company

For donating your services to remove hazardous trees!

April, 2013

Dear Friend,

Spring has sprung and Mother Nature is moving full-speed ahead! Raucous calls of Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs ring from our wetlands, while multi-colored warblers are starting to migrate through forests. Soon the woodland wildlfowers will be in their glory, taking advantage of the light before the trees leaf out.

Make an effort to experience this fleeting time, you'll be glad you did. Grab a friend and take a hike at Dix Park to find delicate flowers, try birding at Towner's Woods or wet a line at Seneca Ponds. Portage Parks is here for you....and for them!

Happy trails,

Christine Craycroft, Executive Director

15th Annual Portage County

Environmental Conservation Awards Dinner
Saturday, April 27th 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Come Celebrate!

Join us as we honor our local environmental conservation heroes who have gone above and beyond to protect Portage County's natural resources and our quality of life. This year's honorees are:

Ken Riley: Environmental Education

Lee Schaefer: Stewardship

Berlin Lake Association: Stewardship

Gwen and Stan Fischer: Environmental Activism

Kent Natural Foods Cooperative: Green Business

Edith Chase: Lifetime Achievement

The evening starts at 6:00 at the Kent American Legion Hall, with a reception featuring local music and local food appetizers, open beer and wine bar (cash bar available), raffle, silent auction, awards program and a presentation on Portage Parks' plans for the future. Tickets are $35, (additional donations to support maintenance of parks and trails are much appreciated).

Learn more.... Become a sponsor.... Register online

May is Bike Month

Time to get the bike tuned and ready for some regular outings on the trails--for exercise, recreation or just a nice alternative commute to work. Connect with your local bike shops for information on gear, repairs and group rides.

Check out our Headwaters Trail, PORTAGE Hike and Bike Trail or the Berlin Lake Trail. AMATS, our local transportation planning organization has a nice free Bike User map also available for download from their website. And tons of information on bike skills, maintenance and rules of the road can be found at the League of American Bicyclists.

Hiram College and the Portage County Engineer have recently collaborated on planning for a trail connection from the college to the Headwaters Trail. See what you think

VIP
Volunteer in the Parks

Have some extra time on your hands and want to help out your Portage Parks? We can put you to work in all kinds of ways. Want to get your hands dirty? We can use help with trail maintenance and resource stewardship. Like to talk with people? We need folks to staff our booth at community events, assist with programs and events and conduct user surveys. Be a VIP-- give us a call or download a volunteer application from our website. Thanks!

Red Trillium at Dix Park

Portage Park District | 330-297-7728 | ccraycroft@portageparkdistrict.org | http://www.portageparkdistrict.org
705 Oakwood Street
Suite 4
Ravenna, OH 44266