Parks and Recreation

October 9, 2014 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information, contact the park district by phone at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Park Closures

Geauga Park District’s Observatory Park will be closed to the public for two days in October, and Big Creek Park, The West Woods and Observatory Park will each be closed two days in December for the purpose of the park district’s controlled hunting program.

Rangers will block public entrance to Observatory Park on Oct. 11 and 12; The West Woods on Dec. 1 and 2; Big Creek Park on Dec. 3 and 4; and Observatory Park again on Dec. 5 and 6 to ensure safety while the parks are closed for firearms hunting. Please note that The West Woods closures will also block access to the park’s nature center for those days.

Controlled hunting has been used since the 2007-08 season to maintain healthy, balanced populations of plants and animals on park district properties. Time has proven it a viable management tool and a proactive approach to the park district’s mission. Learn more about the program at http://bit.ly/gpdhunt.

All Geauga Park District buildings will also be closed Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; unscheduled closures are always posted on WKYC and WEWS in Cleveland.

Not Just Another ‘Fall Fest’

Geauga Park District’s new, free Fall Fest takes place Oct. 10 and 11 from 5-9 p.m. at Frohring Meadows, 16780 Savage Road in Bainbridge Township.

First-come, first-served horse-drawn wagon rides are one of the exciting features. Clydesdales Brutus and Rosebud will take guests around the paved trail while a naturalist shares all the signs of the season. Go right to the ticket booth upon arrival to get one’s name in for a designated time.

Even those who don’t ride will have no problem keeping busy, with hands-on activity stations, including make-and-take slime, a puppet show, a corn box filled with corn kernels, hiking, sack racing, face painting, a campfire, s’mores, popcorn, cider and more.

Then at 8 p.m., join naturalists for a night hike into the woods. A detailed schedule is available at bit.ly/gpdspecial.

Registration is not required.

If the Frohring lot fills, guests will be redirected to the overflow parking at the Army National Guard armory, 7600 Washington St., where there will be a shuttle available from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Guests may also hike to Fall Fest; the wooded trail is about 1.5 miles. A sign will be posted at the hike’s entrance, just beyond the old baseball field at the armory.

Halloween Hiking

Linking the coolness of nature with the coolness of black lights, all are invited to join Geauga Park District for a fun, purplish program in the park. Dress in costume to really soak in the spirit.

Halloween Blacklight Hike and Campfire is Oct. 18 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Sunnybrook Preserve, 12474 Heath Road in Chester Township.

First, a spooky, but not too scary, hike led by naturalist Linda Gilbert will uncover awesome plants and other creepy-crawlies as they look under the black light beam. Then, the group will gather around the campfire for stories and general seasonal socializing.

Registration is not required.

LAKE METROPARKS

Three-Acre Corn Maze

“Walk the stalk” through a multitude of twists and turns through a 3-acre corn maze at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road in Kirtland.

Trivia questions are posted throughout the maze to help guide along the way. Answer the questions correctly and proceed on the correct path. A play area is located near the entrance of the maze including an assortment of farm-themed character cutouts to provide great photo opportunities.

The corn maze at Farmpark is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays through Oct. 19, weather and field conditions permitting. To check the conditions of the maze and/or make school or group reservations, call Farmpark at 440-256-2122 or visit lakemetroparks.com.

The corn maze is included with regular Farmpark admission.

Corn & Pumpkin Harvest Weekend

Corn and Pumpkin Harvest Weekend is filled with activities that highlight the sights, smells and tastes of the corn and pumpkin harvest. The festival runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11-12 and 18-19 at Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road in Kirtland.

Activities include husking, shelling and grinding corn, making cornhusk dolls, playing corn hole and corn darts and an opportunity to paint a pumpkin and take it home (additional fee applies). Sample the fall harvest stew made with Farmpark’s own potatoes, help crank up some pumpkin ice cream and learn how to plow behind Farmpark’s draft horses.

For more information, including admission and directions, call 440-256-2122 or visit online at www.lakemetroparks.com.