2012 Picnic Shelter Reservations begin Monday, December 5 for Lake County residents

Lake County residents may register for picnic shelter reservations for 2012 beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 5.  Reserve your shelter online or by calling the Lake Metroparks Registration Department at 440-358-7275 or 800-669-9226.  Reservations from Lake County residents received by phone, mail, and in person at the Lake Metroparks Registration Office will also be processed on December 5.  Out-of-county residents may begin reserving shelters beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 12.

 

A new shelter available to reserve in 2012 is at the new Gully Brook Park in Willoughby Hills.  The shelter overlooks a beautiful brook and is located next to the trail.  An elaborate playground is located nearby.  New playground equipment was also installed this year near the shelter at Hidden Valley Park.    All shelters provide picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and other amenities and are great for family reunions or other special gatherings.   Some of the shelters include power, nearby trails, playground equipment, and volleyball courts for additional fun. For a complete listing of the shelters and their amenities, click here. 

For Lake County residents wishing to reserve a picnic shelter, a $50 refundable deposit (payable by credit card, check or cash in person/phone and via credit card online) is required at the time of reservation.  Residents living outside Lake County pay a $25 non-refundable rental fee in addition to the $50 refundable deposit.  Payment can be made in person, or mailed to Lake Metroparks Registration Department, 11211 Spear Road, Concord Township, Ohio 44077.   For more information, call the Lake Metroparks Registration Department at (440) 358-7275 or 1-800-669-9226.  The office is open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Lake Metroparks 10-year Strategic Plan - The Marsh Creek Basin

Lake Metroparks’ approach to planning and formulating strategic actions was to divide Lake County into six diverse districts. The establishment of districts will better enable the park district to focus future investment decisions on the unique opportunities and specific needs that exist within each district. The distinctive geography that defines Lake County has influenced development patterns and created unique districts. District 3: Marsh Creek Basin The Marsh Creek Basin encompasses the low flatlands with drainage feeding streams that reach Lake Erie west of Mentor Marsh and east of the lower Chagrin River corridor. Like the Urbanized Lake Plain to the west, the area was easily developable and as the Cleveland metropolitan area expanded to the east, it saw extensive growth between 1950 and 1980. The district includes Mentor, Mentor-on-the-Lake and parts of Concord Township.  Lake Metroparks manages one park in this district:  Veterans Park Future Objectives During the coming decade, Lake Metroparks will work with local communities, agencies and organizations to contribute to the preservation of the Marsh Creek riparian area. Click here to download the Marsh Creek Basin information sheet. In a continuing effort to meet the needs and desires of all Lake County residents, Lake Metroparks periodically reviews its approach to fulfilling the agency’s mission and goals. The park district has recently created a ten-year strategic plan that will inform decision-making with regard to policies, operations, maintenance and capital improvements over the next decade. Lake Metroparks’ strategic plan examines how to best fulfill the agency's mission given the current and projected economic, demographic and environmental trends facing Lake County and the surrounding region. For more information about Lake Metroparks' Ten-year Strategic Plan Executive Summary, click here.