The best place to start your Summit Metro Parks centennial journey is right at your fingertips — www.summitmetroparks100.org. The centennial website is packed with information about what’s to come in 2021, and will be updated regularly throughout the year.
The site features a number of ways to engage with the upcoming celebration, including sharing your own SMP story, taking the Centennial Tour (beginning in March 2021) and planting a Centennial Tree (beginning in spring/summer 2021).
A true highlight of the site is the fun and interactive timeline that allows park enthusiasts and history buffs alike to take a journey through the park district’s past, present and future.
Visitors are invited to dive into a century’s worth of park memorabilia, including vintage photographs, videos and audio recordings. The timeline guides users through the significant milestones of the park district’s evolution, from the first donation of less than one-quarter acre to the 14,000 acres it comprises today. It also chronicles the establishment and growth of SMP’s interpretive programs, which connect nearly 75,000 people to nature annually in Summit County.
The timeline features archival photographs and films that have been recently digitized to ensure they are accessible for future generations to learn from and enjoy. Additional photos and videos from this treasure trove of Summit County history will also be shared with the public via social media and other means throughout 2021.
Visit the timeline today to learn about the earliest days of Summit Metro Parks and how each of its 16 parks came into existence. Discover the leaders who ensured the park district’s establishment and its longstanding success. And, take a peek into the future to see what the next 100 years has in store.
Originally founded in 1921, Summit Metro Parks is the second-oldest park district in Ohio. Summit Metro Parks today manages more than 14,000 acres, including 16 parks, several conservation areas and over 150 miles of trails, and each year connects nearly 100,000 people to nature through community events and naturalist-led programs. Annual visitation in 2020 is expected to reach six million visits, approximately one million more than a typical year. The park district’s mission is to conserve, sustainably manage and value natural resources for the health and enjoyment of our community, and inspire people to connect with nature through clean and safe parks. Learn more.