Danielle Serino reported about the newborn lambs at Farmark. Her segment, Action News Animals: Fluffy Friends aired January 27 on 19 Action News at Noon. Click here to view the video.
Lake Metroparks Ranger Lieutenant Honored
The North Carolina Department of Justice and the North Carolina Justice Academy have awarded Lake Metroparks Ranger Lieutenant James “Jim” Smallwood the prestigious and rare Certificate of Graduation for completing the Professional Ranger Program. Lt. Smallwood is only the 20th recipient of the award in the 32-year history of this certification program, designed to recognize career development efforts in the field of parks.
Lieutenant James "Jim" Smallwood
Lt. Smallwood began working toward this achievement 15 years ago. His award demonstrates both his personal commitment as well as Lake Metroparks’ commitment to ongoing professional training and growth. The program consists of a variety of courses, including general law enforcement, legal issues, environmental and interpretive education, natural resource law and protection, crime prevention as well as a selection of specialized instructor and safety courses. Work experience and additional, ongoing education are also factored into the certification award.
Jim Smallwood has worked in the Lake Metroparks Ranger Department for over 20 years, and has served as Lieutenant Ranger since June 2005. He currently oversees the patrol function of the Ranger Department.
From April 1 to October 31, access to Hidden Lake will be permitted for fishing, by permit only, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm. Click here for details.
Seasonal employment opportunities posted. Click hereto view list of available positions
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for updated ski conditions!
'Discover' what it's like on a farm at Farmpark's Discovery Days Click here for details
Enjoy a day of new activities during Funday Mondays at Penitentiary Glen Nature Center. Click here for details
What's happening at Lake Metroparks in 2010? Click here for a complete list of events.
A calf and piglets were born at Farmpark January 4.
Click on images above for more pictures from our Facebook photo album
Lake Metroparks Board of
Park Commissioners appoints
Steve Madewell as
Executive Director
Stephen W. Madewell has been appointed Lake Metroparks executive director by the Board of Park Commissioners. He serves as the agency’s chief executive officer, leading and directing the park district to assure achievement of its mission, financial viability, short- and long-term growth,
and stability.
"We know Steve Madewell is the right person for the right time in the right place to take us to the next level with our strategic plan and with the commissioners," said park board member Ellen Foley Kessler.
“Steve Madewell did an excellent job as interim director, leading our staff and continuing to move the park district forward,” explained park board president Mark P. Oesterle. He continued, “All three board members take pride in promoting one of our own employees as the next executive director. We appreciate the professional staff we have, and the credit for this succession planning goes to previous commissioners and former executive director David Noble, who made sure there was a well-qualified candidate on staff, able to take over. With Steve Madewell as executive director of Lake Metroparks, we look forward to continued excellence as a nationally-recognized park district.”
Over the course of his 28-year career, Madewell has worked for three park districts and one private nature center in Ohio. He has worked for Lake Metroparks since 1988; as Deputy Director, Madewell was responsible for project management and supervision of planning, development, resource protection and land acquisition as well as natural resource inventory and management. Madewell stated, “I find it remarkable that my career would lead me to work in such a wonderful part of Ohio for such an outstanding agency.”
Madewell has served on the board of directors for numerous local, state and national conservation, park and recreation organizations. He was honored to participate in the Great Lakes Regional Coalition Public Policy Committee that was created by President Bush, and was invited to attend the White House Conference on Conservation in 2005. He currently serves as president elect of the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. He and his wife, Mary Jo, live in Concord Township and have three adult children.
Just in time for the busy summer season and in response to public requests for additional parking and access to the 4.8-mile paved Greenway Corridor bike/hike trail, Lake Metroparks this week completed installation of a parking lot. Located at 10850 Girdled Road, just east of Crile Road in Concord Township, the lot accommodates eight vehicles and provides direct access to the southern portion of the popular trail.
This new lot brings the total number of trail access points to four. Parking is also available at:
Liberty Street and Rt. 84 in Painesville,
at the Concord Township Old Stone School, 7125 Ravenna Road (500 feet north of Concord-Hambden Road), and
7539 Ravenna Road (just north of Cornpopper Farm).
Lake Metroparks celebrates the International Year of Astronomy. Click here for a list of programs and more information.
Pleasant Valley Park is one of the newest properties owned by Lake Metroparks. Currently, efforts are underway to return the property, formerly the Warner Nursery, to its original floodplain status.
Video shows park employees involved in cleaning up the property and restoring the floodplain.
Lake Metroparks is in the process of developing a strategic operating plan for the future use of this property. Limited stream access only.
Lake Metroparks is honored by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association
- Recognized with six awards including two Superior ratings (1st place). Click here for complete list of awards.
Lake Metroparks is honored by Lake Communicators.
- Recognized with five APEX awards including two Gold.
Lake Metroparks' annual and popular Halloween Hayrides literally takes a cast of thousands to produce.
To assemble the hayrides, the agency must have the help of more than 1,000 volunteers who do everything from being actors to taking tickets to set design and construction to making hot chocolate. It takes nearly four weeks to get everything ready, parks officials say.
In return, these volunteers are greeted with the enthusiastic endorsement of between 15,000 and 18,000 visitors to the agency's Farmpark in Kirtland.
Click here for more of the article that was in The News-Herald….
Becky Parkin on WOIO with 19 Action News' Meteorologist Jon Loufman talking about the Super Star Party. Ian Cooper, president of the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society, brought in his homemade telescope for us to use as a backdrop.
Piglets
Piglets at Farmpark are featured in an Action News Animals! segment by Danielle Serino on 19 Action News.
Click here to watch video. Search the video file on top left of the page for “This little piglet went to…”
Click PLAY to watch a video of the segment being filmed -->
Kenny Crumpton kayaks with Lake Metroparks
at Grand River Landing
Kenny Crumpton from FOX 8 came out to Grand River Landing to do a segment about Kayaking. Brian Fowler and Brian Davidson talked with and demonstrated kayaking and Kenny got on and in the two types of kayaks.
Woolfest
Photo by Mary Beth Joeright. Courtesy of The News-Herald Jamie Wise, 3, of Wellington gets a lesson in sheep shearing from
Wendy Vacak of Chardon during Woolfest at Lake Metroparks Farmpark
A photo and story about Woolfest was featured on the front page of The News-Herald (6/29/09). Click hereto read the story and view video by Nick Carrabine.
Jaws, Lake Metroparks animal ambassador
Jaws, an animal ambassador from
Lake Metroparks' Wildlife Center, is featured in video which appeared on 19 Action News Animals! segment by Danielle Serino.
Click here to watch video. Search the video file on top left of the page for "Virginia Oppossum".
Bridgett Bellett, 3, of South Euclid milks a cow with some help
from her mother Katie during the cow milking competition Sunday
at Lake Metroparks Farmpark's Dairy Days.
A photo and story about Dairy Days was featured on the front page of
The News-Herald (6/22/09). Click hereto read the story and view video by Jason Lea.
371 racers floated down the mighty Grand River in the annual Grand River Canoe and Kayak Race hosted by Lake Metroparks. The race features a Maddest Hat contest where contestants don the most unusual head attire and have to attempt to wear it the entire race.
A photo and story about the race was featured on the front page of The News-Herald (4/26/09).
Farmpark's Multi-horse Hitch at St. Patrick's Day Parade
Photo courtesy of The Plain Dealer.
Lake Metroparks Farmpark's multi-draft horse hitch took part in the annual Cleveland St. Patrick's Day Parade. Click here to read story featured on Cleveland.com (3/17/09) and The Plain Dealer (3/18/09).
Quilts 2009 at Farmpark is featured in a wonderful story with beautiful photos on front page of The News-Herald's Community Section Feb. 22. Click here to read story.
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The North Carolina Department of Justice and the North Carolina Justice Academy have awarded Lake Metroparks Ranger Lieutenant James “Jim” Smallwood the prestigious and rare Certificate of Graduation for completing the Professional Ranger Program. Lt. Smallwood is only the 20th recipient of the award in the 32-year history of this certification program, designed to recognize career development efforts in the field of parks.
