Plan Your Visit
Alerts
Be prepared for your next visit. View a list of park and trail alerts below, and call the park district’s Administrative Office for details: 330-867-5511 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Last updated March 24, 2025
General
Bird Flu
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), H5N1 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers. The best prevention is to avoid sources of exposure:
- Enjoy wild birds safely from a distance. Avoid physical interactions like feeding.
- Do not touch sick or dead birds.
- Avoid collecting bird feathers.
- Do not eat raw dairy products.
Hand-feeding chickadees is a popular activity at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm (1828 Smith Rd., Akron). The park district advises visitors to refrain from hand-feeding at this time to reduce the spread of bird flu. As a precaution, Summit Metro Parks has also suspended the sale of bird seed from Maple Leaf Gifts, located inside F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm Visitors Center.
For more information, visit the CDC website or the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
Weather Reports
Weather stations located across Summit Metro Parks provide real-time weather data, including temperature, rain fall, humidity and wind speed. Visit the links below to view data from different areas of the county and plan your upcoming trip to the parks.
Water Fountain Winterization
All water fountains across the county will be winterized for the season ahead of expected cold temperatures. Park fountains are exposed to all elements and internal parts do not hold up to any freezing, making this a necessary step in winter preparation in the Metro Parks. Remember to bring your water bottle on your next visit to the Metro Parks!
Winter Restroom Closures
Several restrooms at park areas across the county are closed seasonally due to concerns including frozen pipes. Be prepared during your next visit and review the following list of restrooms closed during the winter:
- Cascade Valley Metro Park, Concession stand restrooms
- Hampton Hills Metro Park, Mountain Bike Area restrooms (intermittently closed)
- Munroe Falls Metro Park, Lake house restrooms
- Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park, Campground (two toilets close, two remain open)
- Towpath Trail, Snyder Road Trailhead restrooms
- Silver Creek Metro Park, Lake house restrooms
Portable toilets at the following locations are removed during winter:
- Cascade Valley Metro Park, Schumacher Area
- Munroe Falls Metro Park, Maple lot
- Furnace Run Metro Park, Daffodil Trail lot
- Silver Creek Metro Park, Cross Country Area and archery range
Paddling
Please note that the paddling access point at the Oxbow Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park has moved to the Valley View Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park.
Boundary Surveys
The park district is conducting boundary surveys to identify property boundary lines. In this type of survey, the surveyor sets (or recovers) property corners and produces a detailed plat or map. To accomplish this, the surveyor researches public records and conducts field research by taking measurements and performing calculations. The areas being surveyed are as follows:
- Columbia Run Conservation Area (Peninsula)
- Freedom Trail (Akron)
- Munroe Falls Metro Park, entire park boundary (Munroe Falls, Tallmadge)
- Wood Hollow Metro Park, northern portion of park (Hudson)
Multipurpose Trails
Freedom Trail
3/28-30: The Middlebury Trailhead will be closed for the installation of a bridge over the existing CSX railroad as part of a trail connection between the Freedom Trail and Portage County Bike & Hike Trail.
3/3/25: The next phase of the Freedom Trail is under construction from Mill Street south to Buchtel Avenue in downtown Akron. This project will extend the trail south behind The University of Akron, near EJ Thomas Hall and across the University Avenue bridge, ending at Buchtel Avenue. Construction is expected to continue throughout 2025. During this time, the Mill Street connection for the Freedom Trail will be unavailable. Visitors traveling south from Arlington Road should turn around at the Mill Street bridge and return on the same trail.
2/27/25: A section of the Freedom Trail, between Adams Court and Perkins Street, will close on March 3 due to Route 8 construction. It is expected to reopen by March 28.
9/25/24: Construction of the Middlebury bridge and trail connector between the Freedom Trail and Portage County Bike & Hike Trail has begun. Visitors to the Middlebury Trailhead are encouraged to use caution near construction equipment and vehicular traffic.
Towpath Trail
1/27/25: A section of the Towpath Trail between the Magic Mile Trailhead (at Robinson Avenue) and Wolf Creek Trailhead (at Snyder Avenue) is closed for construction.
Parks
Cascade Valley Metro Park
Ongoing: The Chuckery Area is closed for site preparation associated with the removal of the Gorge Dam. Following this work, the City of Akron will begin preparations for the Northside Interceptor Tunnel (NSIT) in the same area. The Chuckery Area will continue to be closed as necessary for public safety throughout the Gorge Dam and NSIT construction work, with closures expected to last through mid-2027.
Firestone Metro Park
1/6/25: Redwing Trail will be closed weekdays through the end of March for a boardwalk decking project. The trail will open on weekends.
Goodyear Heights Metro Park
10/15/24: Summit Metro Parks will begin a conservation maintenance project to remove invasive tree species. Removal will occur in phases through the end of March 2025, at which point work will end for the season. The park district does not anticipate project-related park or trail closures. Read more.
Gorge Metro Park
Ongoing: Highbridge Trail is closed until further notice due to a damaged pedestrian bridge and the City of Akron’s sewer construction project.
During 2025: Pending US EPA contractor schedules, the park is anticipated to close in 2025 for the removal of the Gorge Dam. Closures are expected to last for at least two years. Please check back for updates.
Hampton Hills Metro Park
11/14/24: The lot at the Top O’ the World Area is closed.
Mountain Bike Trails will be closed during wet or dangerous conditions. Status updates are shared via X (formerly Twitter). Please check before you ride: @SMPmountainbike. Please note: X currently requires users to log in with an account to view current tweets. We apologize for the inconvenience. The Mountain Bike Trail status is displayed at the Hampton Hills Metro Park Mountain Bike Area lot, or you may call our Administrative Offices during business hours: 330-867-5511.
Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park
Ongoing: To align with the park district’s mission to protect natural resources, Summit Metro Parks biologists increased the protective buffer around the reed beds used by purple martins at Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park. We understand that this decision may be disappointing to some visitors. Unfortunately, in recent years kayakers and boaters have encroached into the birds’ space, discouraging them from using this valuable habitat on their seasonal journey to South America.
Sand Run Metro Park
3/24/25: Treaty Line Road will be closed between our Administrative Offices and the Treaty Line Area parking lot March 27-28 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day for forestry work. To access Administrative Offices, enter off Merriman Road. To access Treaty Line Area, enter off North Portage Path.
11/25/24: A portion of the Jogging Trail is closed to provide necessary repairs to a failing retaining wall. The trail is closed from Chestnut Drive (the entrance to Chestnut Lodge off Sand Run Parkway) to the Shadowfield Area. Please obey the signage for the safety of construction crews and park visitors.
Sand Run Parkway is closed Monday through Friday between the Shadowfield Parking Lot and Sand Run Road. The parkway will open on the weekends and for lodge rentals as needed, with a portion of the road at the construction site converted to one-way traffic. Please obey the traffic signal for the safety of construction crews and park visitors.
Repairs are expected to be complete in summer 2025.
Silver Creek Metro Park
12/19/24: The horse trailer and Archery Range parking lot may be closed intermittently due to icy conditions. If closed, visitors may access the bridle trail from the Boathouse Area (5171 S. Medina Line Rd., Norton).