Mill Creek Park

Lanterman's Mill in Mill Creek Park

For Mill Creek Park, Michigan, see Historic Mill Creek State Park.

Mill Creek Park is a metropolitan park located in Youngstown, Ohio. It is the second largest metropolitan park in the United States after Fairmount Park in Philadelphia^{[citation needed]}, and the 140th largest park located within the limits of a U.S. city.

History

Mill Creek Park

The park was founded in 1891 due to the "untiring efforts of Youngstown attorney Volney Rogers". Rogers secured options on much of the land and was able to purchase large tracts of it. This was no small task given that he was compelled to deal with more than 90 landowners. Once the land was secured, Rogers framed and promoted what he called the "Township Park Improvement Law." Upon the law's passage, Rogers turned over all of the land he had secured for park purposes. Rogers had the area declared a park by the state legislature. It officially opened in 1893.

Rogers later enlisted the help of his brother Bruce, who had studied landscape architecture, and Bruce Rogers became the first Mill Creek Park superintendent. Earlier, the project benefited from the contributions of well-known landscape architect Charles Eliot, and Mill Creek Park is regarded as one of his notable works.

The same year that the park opened, the Mahoning County commissioners issued bonds to pay for the parkland, and Rogers purchased $25,000 of them, with the understanding that they would be the last ones paid. Ironically, the financial panic of 1893 facilitated the park's development. As a later newspaper account observed: "Unemployed men found work there. A second bond issue paid for their wages. The men cut trails, established drives, restored Pioneer Pavilion (a renovated factory building that was the oldest structure in the park) and built Lake Cohasset Dam".

Fellows Riverside Gardens

Each year over 40,000 bulbs announce the arrival of spring. Crocus, tulips, narcissus and other bulbs give forth their joyful colors in abundance. Annuals by the thousands replace the bulbs as they subside. Old favorites and new varieties are skillfully blended to produce a show that's sure to please.

A generous variety of labeled trees and shrubs serve as the background for the many floral displays. Shade trees, flowering trees, shrubs and ground covers of all descriptions combine to create smaller gardens within a garden. Collections of European beech, rhododendrons, hollies, shade plants, herbs, dwarf conifers, perennials and others are displayed for the enjoyment and education of the visitor. Many come just to relax.

Fellows Riverside Gardens is more than a collection of plants: it is a collection of services offered to the public. Tours are available by reservation. Gardening courses and volunteer opportunities are available for those who wish to learn about the many aspects of horticulture. Special events, weddings, private parties and art exhibits bring many; others visit to peruse the fine gifts in the Shop in the Gardens, enjoy lunch in the Garden Café, or take advantage of the many library resources. Local artists and photographers come to the Gardens for compositions and inspiration as do home gardeners.

Mill Creek Golf Course

Mill Creek Golf Course features two 18-hole championship courses designed by Donald Ross that opened to the public in 1928. Both courses are par 70 with four sets of tees, stretching from 5172 yards to 6511 yards. The South Course plays over a flat terrain with tree-lined fairways. Natural areas and streams come into play on five holes. The South Course has been selected by Golfweek as one of America's 30 Best Municipal Courses. The North Course weaves through tall trees and includes a variety of natural hazards. Nestled in the beauty and splendor of a park setting, Mill Creek Golf Course continues to challenge the skills of golfers at all levels.

Lanterman's Mill

One of Mahoning County's most historic landmarks, Lanterman's Mill was built in 1845-46 by German Lanterman and Samuel Kimberly. Restored in 1982-85 through a gift from the Ward and Florence Beecher Foundations, this community treasure represents one of the many pioneer industries developed along Mill Creek and operates today as it did in the 1800s, grinding corn, wheat, and buckwheat.

Visit Lanterman's Mill and step into the past. Observe the pioneer ingenuity involved in the early production of meal and flour, smell the sweet aroma of freshly ground grains, and feel the rumbling vibrations of the massive stones as the various grains are ground. Browse the gift shop located in the Mill to find unique items and charming wares made by local artisans. Our stone-ground cornmeal, buckwheat, and whole wheat flour are preservative-free and can be purchased in the gift shop and at local participating stores. Call 330-740-7107 for information regarding our stone-ground flours and meal. Download a brochure for delicious recipes using your Lanterman's Mill products.

Facilities at this area include: • Observation deck overlooking Lanterman's Falls • Covered bridge (located upstream from the Mill) • Restrooms • Hiking trails

The nearby East Gorge Walk and West Gorge Trail offer a dramatic peek into the area's geologic history. Listed in the Mid-America Walking Atlas, the award-winning Gorge Trail is a breathtakingly beautiful two-mile loop along Mill Creek. The trail consists of a boardwalk and is bordered on one side by the stream and on the other side by a massive wall of sandstone.

Ford Nature Center

The Ford Nature Education Center opened to the public in 1972 as the headquarters for the Park’s nature education programs in the northern part of Mill Creek Park within a handsome stone mansion donated to the Park in 1968 by the children of the late Judge John W. Ford.

The naturalist staff at the Ford Nature Center offers a variety of programming throughout the year including hikes, school programs, workshops, and special events. Display areas at the Ford Nature Center include the Habitat Room which depicts plants and animals of four local habitats, the Discovery Room where children can use their senses to learn about the natural world, and a Live Animal Room with turtles, snakes, and other animals native to northeast Ohio.

The Ford Nature Center also houses the Vickers Memorial Library, a bird observation area, the Teachers’ Resource Center, and a gift shop. The grounds include wildlife gardens and walking trails.

Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands

Mill Creek Park contains 3 man-made lakes, 1 pond and 1 wetland.

Lake Glacier

Lake Glacier was created in 1906 by the damming of Mill Creek at the "narrows" as it approached the Mahoning River. This 44-acre lake has provided recreational opportunities for many generations. Boating and fishing are permitted in season. Kayaks and pedal boats are available to rent at the Glacier Boathouse on West Glacier Drive. A passenger boat is available for individual rides and group reservations. A barrier-free fishing dock is located along West Glacier Drive. Hikers can access Old Tree Trail and East Glacier Trail.

Lake Newport & Wetlands

In 1924, Alice Baldwin Lewis donated 70 acres of land specifying that part of the land was to be used for creating a lake. Mill Creek meandered through this shallow valley making it a suitable site for a man-made lake. In 1928 a dam was built, creating what is now known as Lake Newport. Lake Newport, the largest of Mill Creek Park's three lakes, offers 60 acres of open water and 40 acres of wetlands. Boating and fishing are permitted in season. A boat launch is located on East Newport Drive. Kayaks and pedal boats are available to rent at the Boathouse on West Newport Drive.

The Newport Wetlands, located at the southern end of the lake, provide habitat for a variety of plants and animals. Visitors can experience this complex web of flora and fauna by walking the Albert E. Davies Wetland Trail, a boardwalk through the wetlands with interpretive signs along the way. Kayakers can explore the wetland habitat through water trails inaccessible from land. Hikers can access West and East Channel and Islands Trails and West Newport Trail.

Lake Cohasset

Lake Cohasset, the oldest of Mill Creek Park's lakes, was built in 1897 and is known for its stately hemlocks. This 28-acre lake offers visitors a secluded place to view wildlife in their natural habitats. Boating and fishing are not permitted on Lake Cohasset. Hikers can access West and East Cohasset Trails to experience this beautiful area.

Lily Pond

Migrating waterfowl and resident goldfish have made this four-acre pond a popular site since 1896. Visitors can enjoy this area by taking The Lily Pond Circle Trail which loops around the pond.

Today

Mill Creek Park now stretches from the near west side of Youngstown to the southern borders of the city and neighboring Boardman township. The park "encompasses approximately 2,600 acres (10.5 km²), 20 mi (32 km) of drives, and 15 mi (24 km) of foot trails" as well as a variety of bridges, ponds, streams, well-tended gardens, and waterfalls.

See also

• Mill Creek

External links

• Official website