FRMP Featured Story
MetroParks Monthly: Programs & Events for September
Updated August 25th, 2023
Below you’ll find a list of programs and events for all ages, from children to lifelong learners, in addition to MetroParks must-dos, sustainability tips and information on what’s growing in the parks this month. Take a deeper dive into your areas of interest by signing up for MetroParks’ email newsletters and following Five Rivers MetroParks […]
Summer’s last call: Free festivals, music and fitness at MetroParks
Published July 26, 2023
Five Rivers MetroParks will host two of Dayton’s favorite cultural festivals this August and September. The Dayton African American Cultural Festival will begin on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Island MetroPark, 101 E Helena St., Dayton. From noon to 8 p.m., visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities, vendors, food, entertainment and live music, all of which celebrates […]
The rewards of a local, diverse, climate-conscious diet
Published July 26, 2023
Guest blogger: MetroParks Sustainability Manager, Tim Pritchard Better food choices can help curb climate change and embracing this notion can lead to rewarding lifestyle changes and personal wellness. Climate change is a heavy, urgent and overwhelming topic, but it is important that we share knowledge and empowerment focused on the betterment of our collective environment […]
Spend time in nature during Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Published July 20, 2023
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and the perfect time to check-in with yourself and loved ones, as well as learn about all the ways you can support your mental wellbeing outdoors. One in five American adults live with mental illness, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of those who […]
Celebrating Pride with MetroParks horticulturalist Josie Rowley
Published June 29, 2023
Before MetroParks can put a wrap on another fun year of celebrating Pride Month, we checked in with MetroParks’ own Josie Rowley. Now a horticulturalist (and college student), Rowley began as a seasonal employee with MetroParks in 2020 and identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Her love of the outdoors was seeded in childhood […]
New Happy Hours to accompany free concerts at RiverScape MetroPark
Published June 28, 2023
Five Rivers MetroParks will now offer Thursday Happy Hour from 5 to 7 p.m. before its free Summer Music Series concerts at RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave. in downtown Dayton. Offerings will include beer, hard seltzers and other beverages. Lawn games such as cornhole will also be available. Additionally, the downtown Dayton Designated Outdoor […]
Waste less for a lower carbon footprint
Published June 27, 2023
By MetroParks Sustainability Manager Tim Pritchard During Spring, we focused on the relationship between food systems and climate change and described how Project Drawdown emphasizes the importance of reducing food waste as a key strategy for mitigation. In fact, reducing waste in general is an extremely important and impactful way to curb carbon emissions. Just […]
Squeeze in some service in the great outdoors this summer
Published June 21, 2023
Last spring, 241 volunteers gathered to participate in Adopt-A-Park, MetroParks’ single largest day of service each year. Volunteers participated in 22 projects in 16 MetroParks locations and served a total of 617 hours. During the event – presented by the CenterPoint Energy Foundation – hundreds of pounds of waste was collected, 100 pounds of which […]
Fall and Holiday Arts Programs Are Abundant at Your MetroParks
Updated December 9th, 2022
As the greenery of summer leaves and gives way to the colors of autumn and winter, we can tend to pull back from our engagement with nature. But to the contrary, autumn and winter provide a plethora of opportunities to explore nature — and, at Five Rivers MetroParks, your artistic side. From photography to arts […]
Five Rivers MetroParks’ Chief Executive Officer Announces 2023 Retirement
Updated December 2nd, 2022
Agency hired executive search firm to conduct nationwide search for new leader Five Rivers MetroParks Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Benná announced today she plans to retire from her position in spring 2023. Benná has led the organization since March 2011 and has worked in public service for over 40 years. The Board of Park Commissioners […]
