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Park Profile
| Mission |
To acquire, conserve and manage natural resources and to provide the public with safe, outdoor recreational and educational opportunities through a system of regional, natural-area parks |
| Chartered |
Metro Parks was established as a metropolitan park district by the Summit County Probate Court, in accordance with Chapter 1545 of the Ohio Revised Code, December 31, 1921. |
| Governance |
A three-member Board of Park Commissioners is appointed by the Summit County Probate Judge. Commissioners serve overlapping three-year terms without compensation. |
| Officers |
Commissioners select, from among themselves, a chairperson and two vice-chairpersons, each serving one-year terms. |
| Appointed Officials |
Commissioners appoint the director-secretary, who serves as the chief executive officer and oversees the work of full-time and part-time employees, seasonal workers and volunteers. The director-secretary is responsible for carrying out the policies established by the board, and performs duties as board secretary. |
| Population |
The population of Summit County is 545,931 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 revised estimate). Since the Metro Parks levy is not assessed in the City of Twinsburg, the park district's voting population is approximately 528,447. |
| Tax Rate |
An 8-year, 1.46-mill Metro Parks levy was approved by Summit County voters in November 2006. The cost is 12 cents a day on a home valued at $100,000. |
| Resources |
Metro Parks manages 9,405 acres, including 13 developed parks, six conservation areas and more than 120 miles of trails, including the 33.5-mile Bike & Hike Trail and 16 miles of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Nine bridle trails travel through the parks, although just one – at Silver Creek Metro Park – is managed by the park district. Other resources include the 9,400-square-foot underground visitors center at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm; a total of 660 picnic sites, including eight reservable open-air shelters and five enclosed pavilions; two swimming lakes, two boating areas and seven fishing locations; areas for sledding, ice skating and cross-country skiing; fields for baseball, softball and soccer; and courts for tennis, volleyball and basketball. Also contained within the parks and conservation areas are numerous examples of Ohio's natural ecosystems. Among the flora and fauna found within the Metro Parks are more than 100 different rare and endangered species. |
| Programs & Services |
Metro Parks offers a range of interpretive programs and services, and annual attendance averages 4 million visitors. More than 50,000 people enjoy the annual Fall Hiking Spree, and an estimated 10,000 people participate in the award-winning Spree For All hiking series for visitors of all abilities. On average, more than 20,000 visitors enjoy hikes and programs led by naturalists. Safety and security is provided by Metro Parks rangers, who protect resources and maintain good order. |
| Staff |
The park district employs 98 full-time employees. Up to 109 seasonal employees are hired during warmer weather months. Non-compensated volunteers assist in a variety of tasks. Volunteer service exceeds 32,000 hours each year. |
| Affiliations |
The park district is affiliated with the following organizations:
• National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
• National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA)
• Ohio Parks & Recreation Association (OPRA)
• Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
• Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S)
• Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity (LEAP)
• The Ohio Biological Survey (OBS)
• The Wildlife Society |
| Contact |
Metro Parks, Serving Summit County
975 Treaty Line Road
Akron, OH 44313-5837
330-867-5511
F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 330-865-8065
Seasonal Information, 330-865-8060
Program Information, 330-865-8064
Volunteer Information, 330-864-3006
summitmetroparks.org |
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Hold Your Nose
The striped skunk's scientific name, mephitis mephitis, means "noxious gas, noxious gas."
Wormy Wood
American chestnut used to be one of the dominate species in our forests. In the early 1900s, a fungus nearly wiped out the species. Today, much of its lumber - called wormy chestnut - is harvested from those dying trees.
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