GREEN ISLANDS Summit Metro Parks Bi-Monthly Magazine
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Vol. 62 No. 4 JUL•AUG ’2 GREEN ISLANDS Summit Metro Parks Bi-monthly Magazine ON THE INSIDE 4 DISCOVER 9 EXPLORE 7 ENJOY New Home at Programs and Memories and Events Milestones in the Summit Lake Metro Parks Your Metro Parks are funded by a small Summit County real-estate tax. This magazine is an example of your public dollars at work. Our parks are like green islands in an urban landscape. BOARD of PARK IN THIS ISSUE commissioners The Cuyahoga . 3 A New Home at Summit Lake . 4 Centennial Spotlight: Lynn Metzger . 8 Programs & Events . 9 Memories and Milestones in SMP. 7 Find-A-Truck . 20 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS Herb Newman Chair Joel D. Bailey Tonya Block Mark A. Spisak Tina Ughrin Joel D. Bailey Mark A. Spisak Herb Newman Lisa M. King Executive Director Tonya Block Tina Ughrin EDITORS The park district’s governing body is appointed by the Summit County Stephanie Walton Chief of Marketing & Communications Probate Judge. Commissioners serve overlapping three-year terms and Mike Greene Education & Recreation Manager are assisted by the executive director, who oversees the work of full-time Lindsay Smith Marketing & Public Relations Manager and part-time employees, seasonal workers and volunteers. DESIGN & ART DIRECTION Jennie Levy Graphic Designer Karl Simonson Graphic Designer Summit Metro Parks 975 Treaty Line Rd., Akron, OH 4433-5837 Administrative Offices: 330-867-55 F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm: 330-865-8065 R Liberty Park Nature Center: 330-487-0493 The park district congratulates Seasonal Information: 330-865-8060 Volunteer Information: 330-865-8047 FRIENDS OF METRO PARKS Photos contributed by: Kim Ardelian • Steve Ash • Jerry Cannon • Christy on their 3Oth ANNIVERSARY! Counterman • Mike Droppleman • Jeff Hill • Tami Hill • Kevin Lanterman • Dave Lieberth • Jennie Levy JJ Prekop Jr. • Bob Roach • Karl Simonson • The Peninsula Library & Historical Society • Stephanie Walton Friends of Metro Parks is a 50(c)3 This magazine is mailed free of charge to Summit County residents. To join the mailing list, send your name and mailing address to [email protected] non-profit organization that supports or call 330-867-55. Green Islands can be downloaded online: and encourages public enjoyment summitmetroparks.org of Summit Metro Parks through membership, outreach and advocacy. Learn more at friendsofmetroparks.org. summitmetroparks.org 2 ©202 Summit Metro Parks YOUR BACK YARD NOW & Then THE CUYAHOGA The River that Burned is the River that’s Turned. In the 00 years Summit Metro Parks catfish, northern pike and even steel- has been in existence, the local fishing head trout. Throughout Summit County, experience has undergone drastic people are looking for greater access transformations. In the 970s, an angler to the river. Summit Metro Parks wading in much of the Cuyahoga River encourages fishing at all parks that Michael Johnson, Chief of Conservation would more likely catch cholera than include a stretch of the Cuyahoga. fish. Decades of industrial and municipal And, kayak and boat access points are pollution left the Cuyahoga struggling being developed as part of a water trail for its very life. One study found almost network that will span from Portage no fish living in the stretch of river from County to the Cleveland harbor. We Akron to Cleveland. Thanks to the Clean invite you and future generations to Water Act and the hard work of many enjoy the next century of clean-water agencies and environmental leaders, our fishing in Summit County! Cuyahoga has made a near full recovery. Water that was once too toxic to touch Cuyahoga River Water Trail website: now supports thriving populations of cuyahogariverwatertrail.org sport fish like panfish, bass, channel summitmetroparks.org 3 A new Summit Metro Parks is proud in its centennial year to open the doors to our permanent home in the Summit Lake community. We are excited to help connect people to nature in new ways in this historic Akron neighborhood at the Summit Lake Nature Center at 4 Ira Avenue. The new Summit Lake Nature Center | May 202 summitmetroparks.org 4 YOUR BACK YARD FOR OO YEARS home at Summit Lake Lindsay Smith, Marketing & Public Relations Manager Understanding Summit Water Act of 972, nature began to Lake’s Storied Past heal. In 208, Summit Brownfields Revitalization Program completed a From 97 to 958 Summit Beach comprehensive water quality study Park provided world-class thrills as an administered by the Northeast Ohio amusement park. Despite enjoyment Four County Planning Organization by the wealthy as a “millionaire’s that showed the lake has similar water Postcard of at playground,” as the park has been Swimming Pool Summit quality as the rest of the Portage Beach Park | circa 925 called, by the 930s and 40s, systemic Lakes — nearby water bodies that are bank discrimination in the surrounding segregation in subsequent decades popular for recreation. While remaining neighborhood prevented many exacerbated the neighborhood’s limited contaminants from industry in the early residents of color from obtaining or connection to opportunities. 900s have settled far down into the keeping homes. Further environmental continued on page 6 Perhaps the community’s most enduring challenge has been industrial contamination of the lake itself. With the pristine glacial lake already too polluted for swimming by 97, Summit Beach Park built the country’s largest mosaic-tiled swimming pool along the lakeshore. But over time and with Mary Bischak Levy (front) and sister Jennie protections initiated through the Clean Bischak Terrion (2nd from right) with friends at PPG picnic | circa 930s Summit Lake floating towpath | circa 898 Summit Beach Park summitmetroparks.org 5 continued from page 5 lakebed, the water itself meets all criteria for fishing and boating. On any given day, anglers can be seen along the lakeshore, casting for a range of species including largemouth bass. This area is Meeting with and listening to Summit Lake also a birder’s paradise, with many community members was one of the first steps of the Reimagining the Civic Commons migratory species such as osprey stopping meetings | 209 here seasonally. Other interesting species The original one-room “Pop Up” Summit Lake Nature Center featured call Summit Lake home year-round. a cozy reading corner. | 207 through a listening-based approach. You can see Connecting to Nature at After operating an award-winning “pop the Summit Lake Nature Center as part of the park Summit Lake up” nature center out of the Reach district’s Centennial Tour! Visit Opportunity Center at Summit Lake Joining together with Summit Lake summitmetroparks100.org from early 207 to 209, the park residents, Summit Metro Parks and to learn more. district now has a dedicated space for its other community-focused organizations nature-based and cultural programming participated in the Knight Foundation’s thanks to the City of Akron’s donation of the former pump house building. Situated alongside the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the Summit Lake Nature Center is at a prime location for educational and recreational outreach in a repurposed building that once pumped water from the lake to nearby rubber factories. Remnants of the former pump system have been transformed into art outside the building in homage to Live animal tanks will feature native species found in and around its history, and several original interior . | 202 Summit Lake Nature Center fixtures remain as well. nationwide Reimagining the Civic Commons project to deliver meaningful amenities Inside the new nature center, visitors and services to the neighborhood will be immersed in bright and engaging summitmetroparks.org 6 YOUR BACK YARD FOR OO YEARS Who are the displays that seamlessly tie together the project funders? past and present of the site. The Summit This project is possible by funding from the following Lake Nature Center features live animals organizations: and interpretive displays which highlight Akron Community the neighborhood, the lake itself and the Foundation – Civic intersection between the two. Affairs (Betty R. Axline Fund, Board of Directors Annual Giving Fund) Bridgestone Trust Fund Dupont Clear into the Future Welcome mural at Summit Lake Nature Center created by local students | 202 Jacqueline Ross Foundation Come join the fun and learn something, Knight Foundation too! Summit Metro Parks naturalists Reimagining the Civic have monthly water recreation, garden- Naturalist-led interpretive programs are Commons provided free of charge | 209 ing and healthy lifestyle programs for Sisler McFawn There is also space for programs and all ages planned at Summit Lake. Visit Foundation summitmetroparks.org for the latest meetings on the second level of the Summit County Land building with large windows that provide information on programs and the Bank Community amazing views of the lake. center’s grand opening. Development Matching Grant Summit Metro Parks Foundation We are also grateful to the City of Akron, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority and the Summit County Land Bank for donating the building and surrounding properties, and to Great Lakes Construction for providing deconstruction services at no cost. This exhibit inside the Summit Lake Nature Center encourages people to connect with nature in the heart of Akron. | Summer 202 summitmetroparks.org 7 Centennial SPOTLIGHT: Lynn Metzger Megan Shaeffer, PhD, Cultural Resources Coordinator Summit Metro Parks is unique in that it is the only county- level park district in Ohio with its own cultural resources staff. These staff members protect and conserve the historic and archaeological sites within the park district — work which would not have been possible without the efforts of Dr. Lynn Metzger. Dr. Metzger, a professor of anthropology and archaeology at The University of Akron (UA), was a tireless advocate for local history. In 2000, she helped create the Community Archaeology Program, allowing UA students to work on archaeological evaluations for local organizations such as Summit Metro Parks.