MetroParks News
Prepping Your Parks
Published February 5, 2019
A behind-the-scenes look at what your MetroParks team is up to this season The American kestrel is the smallest and most common falcon in North America — but these birds aren’t always the wildlife staff find during the wintertime cleaning of kestrel nesting boxes. “Sometimes, you’ll open the box and a pair of screech owls […]
This Is What Conservation Looks Like
Published September 11, 2018
con·ser·va·tion (noun) känsərˈvāSH(ə)n/ The action of conserving something, in particular: preservation, protection or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation and wildlife. preservation, repair and prevention of deterioration of archaeological, historical and cultural sites and artifacts. Conservation is the science-based philosophy and inspiration that guides the long-term management and protection of the nearly 16,000 […]
Sometimes Conservation Requires A Serious Dose of Eradication
Published September 29, 2017
IT’S AN ONGOING EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR REGION’S NATIVE PLANT SPECIES Five Rivers MetroParks is gearing up to deliver its annual honeysuckle prescription. Left to grow wild, this invasive plant chokes local ecosystems. MetroParks conservation staff are getting to the bottom of the problem, with a solution that hitches a ride with the nutrients that […]
Splash Parks & Pads in Dayton
Published May 22, 2017
If you’re scratching your head and wondering what a “Splash Park” could possibly be, you certainly are not alone. Splash Parks, or Pads, have become an overnight sensation in many parts of the Midwest as kids and parents alike seek solace from the scorching summer rays. The parks are usually composed of crumb rubber or […]
Nature: Fertile prairie near Dayton produces rare fern
Updated May 22nd, 2017
Last spring, I was excited to see a report from Dave Nolin about his discovery of a rare fern. Nolin is a former administrator for Dayton’s Five Rivers MetroParks and a consummate naturalist. He is passionate about Huffman Prairie, which occupies nearly 100 acres at the southern end of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This prairie […]
Nature Restoration
Published May 11, 2017
When Five Rivers MetroParks purchased the former Larch Tree Golf Course in 2015, the 180-acre site had been unused for several years and was home to buildings that had fallen into disrepair. Now, those buildings have been removed, with materials salvaged when possible and the property, adjacent to the 360-acre Wetland Mitigation Bank owned by […]
Local transformers
Updated April 21st, 2017
Five Rivers MetroParks works with community gardens in the Dayton region as part of the Grow With Your Neighbors program, which began in 1986. In 2007, 18 gardens were part of the program—today, it’s grown to include 97 gardens that serve more than 3,460 people. And when it comes to people, the key predictor of […]
Land Bank pumping millions into restoring local distressed properties
Updated April 21st, 2017
When quiet but important real estate deals need to happen, the Montgomery County Land Bank is often there. Fueled by $18 million in federal funds, the bank is best known as being a vehicle for arranging the transfer of vacant, distressed homes, making demolition of “zombie properties” possible. “Distressed real estate is kind of the […]
5 Ohio Playgrounds Worth-the-Drive
Updated April 21st, 2017
Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark | Dayton, OH This Dayton MetroPark has a Children’s Garden unrivaled by any other, featuring lots of sensory play areas, different animal habitats and even a learning garden where kids can get hands-on experience. We especially love the musical garden (which features large, outdoor musical instruments) and the sandbox (because what kid doesn’t […]
Where to paddle in Dayton, and what to know before you go
Updated April 21st, 2017
What is paddling? It’s a generic classification for vessels (and related activities) that are powered by paddles — canoes, kayaks, Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) and rafts. This does not include rowing with oars or motor boats, said Erik Dahlstrom, outdoor recreation coordinator for Five Rivers MetroParks. … Read the full story on Dayton.com.
