French Creek Reservation

NATURE CENTER: 4530 COLORADO AVE., SHEFFIELD VILLAGE

PINE TREE PICNIC AREA: 4951 FRENCH CREEK RD., SHEFFIELD VILLAGE (440) 949-5200

ACREAGE: 405 Acres TRAILS: 4+ miles (asphalt, stone, & natural)

FUN FACT:

Columbia's historic Blockhouse (only 0.1 mile from the parking lot) is a replica of the original safe haven house built by settlers during the War of 1812 on the land that is now Columbia Reservation.

NATURE FACTS:

• Plenty of wildlife calls Columbia Reservation home, including muskrat, deer, skunk, rabbit, raccoon, fox, coyote, wild turkeys, snakes, frogs and turtles as well as many other mammals.

• Columbia Reservation has more than 7 ponds or wetlands that provide homes to many wildlife and gorgeous views to park visitors.

AMENITIES:

18-hole course, Driving range, Pro shop, Snack bar/Clubhouse

FUN FACT: Forest Hills Golf Course is the home to the annual Citizen's Committee for Lorain County Metro Parks golf outing in July which typically offers participants a round of golf with a cart, lunch at the turn and an Antigua golf shirt.

NATURE FACT:

The Black River runs through the course and comes into play in six holes, and there are plenty of other ponds, bunkers and hills to keep things interesting.

ACREAGE: 450 Acres TRAILS: 4.5+ miles (natural, stone)

FUN FACT:

The French Creek kayak launch located about 1 mile west of the Nature Center on Old Colorado Ave. offers paddlers access to the French Creek (a Black River tributary) and is only about 5 miles from Lake Erie.

ANNUAL EVENTS:

• French Creek Theatre productions

• Nature Discovery Days (May)

• Nature Camp (June) & Theatre Camp (June/July)