Mill Creek Park Remembered

ter all, this was not the ordinary park found in most communities, but rather a significant part of our city and valley. I tried to explain how it runs throughout the city of Youngstown and far beyond its borders. If that weren’t enough, I had more than a couple of reminders of the “old mill” around my condo. There were watercolor prints, a wooden block replica of the mill, Christmas ornaments on the tree, and of course, tons of pictures of “the mill”.

When I relocated back here in late 2005, I was thrilled to find out that my dear friends from Naples would be visiting in the autumn of the next year. I could not wait. I couldn’t imagine that the famous mill I spoke of and the park itself, would be explored by them, along with me, and they could truly take in its fall splendor with me at their sides. Needless to say, we smiled and laughed as we approached from the parking lot of Lanterman’s Mill and took the obligatory photo of them with the mill in the background. At last they had witnessed firsthand the beauty of not only the mill, but the entire park. Did I drive them through every road in the park? You bet I did!

Did they enjoy it? They sure did, and now they explain to their friends in Naples and elsewhere what a truly remarkable asset this place is to our community. I’m sure there will be a return trip in the near future.