Parks and Recreation

March 27, 2014 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

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

Meyer Center Hours

In the interest of exercising wise financial stewardship, paired with significantly reduced visitation, the Donald W. Meyer Center in Big Creek Park will no longer host public visitation on weekends or government holidays. Functioning as Geauga Park District’s primary administrative center, the Meyer Center will continue to host public visitation during the regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Since this building has increasingly operated as an administrative center, it has seen a drastic reduction in weekend visitation, and a cost analysis revealed potential savings in no longer maintaining and staffing it on weekends when programs and events were not occurring.

That being said, the Park District will continue to host the summer amphitheater concert series, and encourages programmers to continue to use the Meyer Center in their planning of public programs and events. Additionally, the Cherry Room and the Frances Hall Amphitheater remain available for reservations by outside groups and requested programs.

The future use of this building will be addressed as part of the leadership team’s strategic planning process to determine best practices going forward.

Annual Nature Writing Contest

Rewards for Geauga Park District’s 19th annual Nature Writing Contest have been revamped this year, with greater exposure for winning writers. Winning works will be published on the park district’s website and promoted on its Facebook page.

First-place works will be published in the Park District’s quarterly Voices of Nature newsletter, mailed to every household in Geauga County. Winning works will be displayed publicly this summer in the lobby of The West Woods Nature Center.

Winners will be encouraged to read their works, or have someone else read them, during a celebratory event at the popular Nature Arts Festival on Aug. 3.

All entries must include nature-oriented subjects or themes. See the contest’s full rules and application on the Bulletin Board on the park district’s website.

Categories are both prose and poetry in the following age groups: Adults 18 and older; adolescents 12 to 17; and children 11 and under.

Entries must be received no later than April 21, either dropped off at Big Creek Park or mailed to ATTN: Nature Writing Contest, Big Creek Park, 9160 Robinson Road, Chardon, OH 44024.

Call Sandy Ward at 440-279-0803 with questions.

Prescribed Burns Planned

Geauga Park District’s Natural Resource Management Department plans to use prescribed fire this spring to manage property at Frohring Meadows in Bainbridge Township, Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve in Burton Township and Swine Creek Reservation in Middlefield Township.

The single-day operations should take place sometime between March 24 and April 30, weather dependent, prior to the nesting season of grassland birds. Burns will be conducted by an Ohio-certified prescribed fire manager and done according to prepared burns plan to ensure proper smoke dispersal.

Signs will be posted for visitors as soon as conditions are conducive to burn; only affected trails will be closed during the time of the burn only. Neighbors, the local fire department, and local law enforcement will be notified directly.

The department also plans to conduct a burn for Hiram College’s field station.

Geauga Park District continues to work toward the establishment of a prairie habitat at Frohring Meadows, which would equally benefit animal life, species diversity and people who enjoy the park. Controlled burning is a well-established best management practice used to maintain prairies.

Nature’s Not To Be Missed

April’s “Nature’s Not to Be Missed” opportunities feature exclusive opportunities to see natural phenomena:

Sky Dance: Courtship Takes Flight: April 4, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Frohring Meadows in Bainbridge Township

A behind-the-bushes look at the courtship antics of the American woodcock, highlighted by an amazing aerial ballet with “wing song” followed by a careening descent. A true rite of spring.

Early Birds at LaDue: April 6, from 9-10:30 a.m. at LaDue Reservoir

A bird outing for early spring migrants, briefly afoot at LaDue marina, then carpooling along the reservoir, pausing to use spotting scopes to view Common Loons, Bald Eagles, ducks and other migrants.

Annual Spring Bird Walk Series: April 13, 20 and 27 and May 4, 11 and 18, 7:30-9:30 a.m. at different parks

A series of six bird walks held in April and May that participate in a Greater Cleveland tradition since 1933. Seasoned bird watchers assist novices with observation of birds during spring migration.

Total Lunar Eclipse: April 14-15, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. at Observatory Park

A lunar eclipse overnight program. In the early hours of April 15, the moon will be completely covered by Earth’s shadow. The “total” portion of the eclipse, when the moon will be completely covered by Earth’s shadow, begins about 3 p.m. and continues for more than an hour.

Join Fellow Photographers

Geauga Park District’s dues-free Shutterbugs Camera Club is growing quickly with lots of new ideas and learning opportunities being offered this spring.

Meetings occur the first Thursday of each month from 7-9 p.m. at The West Woods Nature Center in Russell Township.

Spring programming will include: Competition Night on April 3; hands-on macro and black light photography clinics with members Richard States and Scott Theus on May 1; and member critiques of one’s photo taken during May’s program or with its techniques on June 5.

Photographers are asked to bring one 8×10 print for critique on that day’s theme, also posted on the website. Each meeting begins with announcements and a monthly instructional session or activity on a variety of topics. Then, after a refreshments break, members of all ages gather around to see members critique each other’s work equal parts complimentary comments and construction criticism, but all in the spirit of growth and positivity.

Membership ranges from school-age to senior citizen and includes all skill levels: from novice with a simple point-and-shoot camera to professional. Meetings generally attract 40 to 50 people each.

Registration is not required. Call Sandy Ward at 440-279-0803 with questions.