With white-nose syndrome (WNS) recently discovered on bats in Twinsburg, Geauga Park District's Natural Resource Management Department has scheduled weekly bat surveys of our local hibernacula to assess Geauga County's population. Park Biologist Paul Pira encourages people to stay away from any known or suspected hibernacula at this time, and welcomes residents who have bat encounters to contact him (440-286-9516) or 1-800-WILDLIFE with reports or questions.
Due to safety concerns, the sledding hill at Orchard Hills Park in Chesterland has been closed for repair until further notice.
Participants at the Sledding and Snowflakes program on Saturday described a large mud pit at the foot of the hill, where sled riders became covered in mud after only a few times down the hill. Now the Park District’s Planning and Operations departments have teamed up to assess the problem and work toward a permanent solution.
“Our concern of course is public safety,” said Deputy Director Keith McClintock, “and we don’t want to see any further deterioration of the park. Our staff has already begun investigating the cause, and will look toward solutions so the hill is up and ready to go again for the winter of 2012-13.”
Orchard Hills Park’s popular sledding hill opened during the winter of 2010-11 to great acclaim. Geauga Park District apologies for the inconvenience while the issue is resolved.
We're seeking stories and quotes from fans of Geauga Park District improvements - a new shelter, a new trail, a new program, the list goes on! Please post yours to our Facebook page or send to sward@geaugaparkdistrict.org, and you could see your name printed in the spring Voices of Nature newsletter, distributed to roughly 41,000 households!
Many thanks to 19 Actions News' Chief Meteorologist Jeff Tanchak for teaching visitors to Big Creek Park about his methods for reading the weather and forecasting everyone's favorite lake-effect snow.
Visit Geauga Park District's YouTube channel for 76 more Nature-related videos!
Three new items have been added to our Special Events page: a discussion on a winning film from last year's Chagrin Documentary Film Festival in April, a description of the llive band that will perform at the Observatory Park grand opening event in June, and news about two 2012 Ohio Chautauqua programs to be held at The West Woods in July.
Geauga Park District's 17th Annual Nature Writing Competition is calling for your prose and poetry entries in adult and youth categories by Sunday, April 1. Applications are available at this link as well as The West Woods Nature Center and the Meyer Center in Big Creek Park.
Haven't written anything yet? Get outside and discover Nature's personal inspiration!
Operations just finished grooming the trail between Mountain Run Station and Claridon-Troy Road for cross country skiing. It's just the first pass of the year, but now's your chance - current forecasts call for 40-degree temps by Friday!
Also, trails being snow-blown for walkers this winter are the paved loop around the lake at Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve, the paved loop at Sunnybrook Preserve, and the paved Ruth Kennan Trail loop at Big Creek Park, courtesy of your hard-working Operations Department.
News: Judge Grendell Names New Park Board Commissioner
Click here to view the news release on Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Timothy J. Grendell's appointment to Geauga Park District's Board of Park Commissioners.
Welcome to the board, Michael J. Petruziello of Chesterland!
Mr. Petruziello's first board meeting will take place at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, at Big Creek Park's Meyer Center. As always, all are welcome to join us.
With Observatory Park's Phase III complete, we thought we'd finally update Park Projects with brand new photos of the Planetary Trail, henge stones and Great Pyramid of Giza corners - despite how soggy everything looks. Feel free to stretch your legs there from now on, and mark your calendar for Saturday, June 16, for the official grand opening celebration!
Photos from the fifth annual Art Takes a Bough Ornament Reception and Silent Auction have been posted at this link, and photos from the annual Holiday Greens Workshop and related Timbertots program have been posted at this link.
There are many ways that the Geauga Park District Foundation accepts gifts on behalf of Geauga Park District - and now it has added online giving! Click here for a complete list of options, including the quick and easy way to do it online.
South Newbury Union Chapel is located on Park District property in Newbury Township - and for your reading pleasure, here's an outstanding blog by The Davey Tree Expert Company about the what the chapel and the nearby Centennial Oak represent: freedom and equality for all.
Did you know that Frohring Meadows now features a spot where dogs can run off leash? Near the park's parking lot, the two-acre dog park area is the only place in Geauga Park District where dogs are permitted without their leashes on.
Users of this area, designated by natural borders of tall grass, must merely abide by the following posted rules:
Leash dogs when entering and exiting this area. Limit two dogs per person.
Clean up immediately after your dog. Repair any holes or damage to the earth.
Keep your dog in sight, and leash in hand, at all times.
Handlers must be at least 18 years old, and are legally responsible for the actions of their dogs. Younger children must be supervised by an adult.
No aggressive dogs, puppies under four months old, female dogs in heat, sick dogs, food or treats (for dogs or humans), glass containers or toys permitted.
Collars required with up-to-date rabies, license and identification tags.
Use this area at your own risk. Geauga Park District is not responsible for injuries or damages to you or your dog.
Well, off goes our final baby bluebird, and so the camera goes dark today on our bluebird family for the season. We'll let you know when the weather warms up again and a bluebird nest begins to reappear...will it be the same parents builting the nest, or perhaps one of their chicks? Stay tuned to this page and http://bit.ly/gpdbluebird come spring!
Observatory Park Weather & Seismic Stations Up and Running
Click here for Weather Station readings. On the top right of the page, the toolbar offers a summary, maps of our location and nearby weather stations, and other interesting information.
Click here for the Seismic Station readings. On the right of the page, select Station Data, and on the next page select Montville to select Observatory Park. Clicking on the Helicorder under "OGSO Station Data" gives the best representation of the actual signal and shows activity up to 24 hours ago, depending on which Helicorder you select.
Thought I'd post some answers to the most frequently asked question at Saturday's events. Feel free to submit yours to sward@geaugaparkdistrict.org for an answer of your own.
Q: When will the park officially open? Will there be a Grand Opening?
A:
Observatory Park will officially open in the spring of 2012, and yes, you will be cordially invited to a Grand Opening at that time. This will also be your next chance to peer into outer space through the Oberle telescope!
Q: What are the hours for this park? What days will it be open, and will it be open in the winter months?
A: Observatory Park will be open like most parks, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily year-round with later hours by programming and special permit, at least initially.
Q: Will there be walking trails?
A: Yes,
the Planetary and Weather trails going in by this fall will amass 1+ miles, and future phases of the park will include woodland trails connecting Observatory Park with the Nassau Astronomical Observing Station.
Q: When will horse trails be installed?
A: Geauga Park District's Board of Park Commissioners is discussing ways to make this a reality; we'll keep you updated on this website.
Q: Where is the Case telescope, and when will this be open?
A: The Nassau Astronomical Observing Station is right up Caves Road from Observatory Park, and will open after funding is obtained for its renovations and improvements through a future phase of construction. Learn more about ongoing fundraising issues on our Capital Campaign page.
Q: How big is this park, and what else can we expect to see here?
A: Learn more about Observatory Park and all its offerings, present and future, on its individual park page.
Updated information about Geauga Park District's 2012 Small Research Grant Program, as well as a list of suggested projects, and Bioblitz tallies and photos from this year have been posted to the NRM Research page.
Another successful year for Geauga Park District's Nature Arts Festival! All the artwork and festivities attracted 2,545 between Saturday and Sunday at The West Woods, despite sizzling temperatures and humidity. Rain even held off (for the most part) during festival weekend. The majority of vendors reported good to excellent sales, and several even pulled a Saturday “all-nighter” to make more inventory for Sunday!
Brian Norcross of Chardon won Geauga Park District Foundation's raffle of "Sunset in the Valley," a Great Blue Heron print by last year's Outstanding Booth/Display Award winner Joel Rogers.
This year's Outstanding Booth/Display Award winner, whose artwork will be featured in next year's raffle, is Dean Chriss, a 37-year nature photographer from Euclid. "Nature has become my photographic home," he writes. "There are rooms in that home that I will likely never see, but there are many beautiful and familiar ones in which I am most comfortable. For that I often feel like the luckiest person on earth."
Thanks to everyone who helped make this exhibition such a success...
...and now, for your People's Choice winners!
Painting/Drawing
1st Place
"Hijackers" (raccoons) by Mardel Sanzotta
2nd Place
"Contemplation" (wolf) by Demetrious Rezos
Photography
1st Place
"Northern Flicker & Chicks" by Lane Ackerman
2nd Place
"Tinkers Creek Overlook - Autumn" by Wayne Mazorow
Mixed Media
1st Place
"Embedded Milkweed" by Charles Topfer
2nd Place
"Breakfast" (fish) by John L. Lenz
Children's (Ages 5-8)
1st Place
"Birch Trees in Ohio" by Christian Artle
Children's (Ages 9-12)
1st Place
"Peaceful Place" by Anna Sanders
2nd Place
"Resting Dragonfly" by Anna Sanders
Visit our Publications & Forms page to view Geauga Park District's 2010 Report to the Public, complete with pages of pictures and information about what we accomplished last year with your help and support. Thank you!
Caveman Crawl 5K Trail Run - Photos, Video and Results
Thank you for making our first-ever Caveman Crawl 5K Trail Run such a success! Nearly 300 runners came out to The West Woods yesterday for quite the adventure - hills, hills and more hills, plus lots of classic Neandrathal costumes.
We've finally posted lots of pictures from the big day at this link (and yes, you can view them even if you're not a member of Facebook).
Also, here are the official race results (in two formats, by age group and overall), courtesy of Cleveland Plays Racing. A special congratulations to overall top finisher Todd Black, who ran just over 3 miles in a cool 19 minutes 50 seconds!
West Geauga Students Point to Geauga Park District as Example
Now that a team of West Geauga High School students - Shawn Cooper, Zak Kucera, Clay McMullen and Nature Scopes graduates Claire Slusarz and Mariah Wright - have qualified to participate in the Final Challenge of the fourth annual Lexus Eco Challenge, they're taking their project worldwide.
The team already won $10,000 in grants and scholarships for their entry in the LAND/WATER challenge earlier this academic year. Prizes will be awarded in April for the Final Challenge. Sixteen schools nationwide have qualified. In the balance hang two grand prizes of $30,000 and eight first prizes of $15,000 to the nation's most innovative programs.
West G's qualifying Environmental Discovery Project involves recycling bottles, cans, chip bags, tires and paper in partnership with organizations in Ecuador, Afghanistan, Kenya and Burma - as well as human waste through the use of composting toilets. "Try out the new composting toilets at local Geauga County parks to see what the West Geauga students are helping to construct in other countries," according to the students' press release.
These composting toilets can be found at The West Woods and Headwaters Park. We wish these students all the best in the Lexus Eco Challenge and beyond!
Keep in Touch Through Facebook, Voices of Nature eNewsletter
It's never been easier to find out what's going on at your Geauga Park District! Click here to receive our new Voices of Nature eNewsletter, featuring pictures, articles and upcoming programs - or "Like" us on Facebook for daily updates and special insights from our experienced naturalist team.
There are many ways that the Geauga Park District Foundation accepts gifts on behalf of Geauga Park District - and now it has added online giving! 
"Nature Arts Festival" People's Choice Winners
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