A VISION FOR
LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS PRESERVE. CONSERVE. EXPLORE.
Mission Statement The Lorain County Metropolitan Park District was established for the responsible use, enjoyment, and accessibility of every citizen of Lorain County. The Park District acquires land to promote and demonstrate the wise use of our natural resources. The Park District strives to preserve and create a diversity of ecosystems while providing educational and recreational opportunities which are compatible with and promote conservation of these resources.
Lorain County Metro Parks by the numbers
Park Visitors
Annual visitation to the Lorain County Metro Parks has increased from 3,308,480 in 2014 to 3,858,721 in 2022, with a significant spike at the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
TRAILS
Lorain County Metro Parks has roughly 145 miles of trails (118 miles of multipurpose and 27 miles of designated water) for recreation.
Programs
Environmental education programming is offered to the general public to create learning opportunities in the great outdoors. These programs are also offered by request to classrooms and groups.
Employees
The entire Metro Parks team consists of fulltime, part-time, and seasonal employees.
Volunteers
The Friends of Metro Parks in Lorain County, Inc. is the volunteer branch of the Lorain County Metro Parks. The Friends organization is currently comprised of 312 active volunteers assisting with programs, animal care, plant care, special events, gift shops, and more.
Facilities
The Lorain County Metro Parks offers picnic shelters, meeting rooms, and large event spaces available to the public. From 2014-2022, Park District facilities were reserved 33,185 times, serving a total of 1,341,219 people.
Financials
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Pandemic | 2020-2021 • Parks remained opened and staffed • Projects continued • Trail etiquette was reintroduced as individuals and families rediscovered our outdoor spaces • Yours To Explore Boxes and delivery • Halloween Boo-Thru and Holiday Lights Cruise-Thru • Visitation boomed by more than 20% during those two years
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
R e c r e at i o n • Amherst HealthPlex • Splash Zone (Oberlin) • Outdoor recreation •
Golf, boating, hiking, archery, disc golf, snowshoeing, paddleboats
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
R e v i e w i n g t h e past | 2 014- 2 0 23
Accomplishments
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments Cascade Park • • • •
145 acres Rotary Playground 19 Acres and Elywood picnic areas Bridge over Black River connecting Cascade and Elywood Parks • 50-Year Lease Agreement with City of Elyria to manage park
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments Henry’s Barn at the North Star Preserve • New reservation opened in 2017 • Preserved and relocated a historic 1885 barn • Facility and grounds used for special events and programs
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments Cassell Reservation • New reservation opened in 2023 • 290 acres • A haven for rare and endangered plants
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments Avon Wetlands • • • •
Expansion of Miller Nature Preserve Opened in 2022 57 acres (including 11 acres of wetlands) 4,000 new trees planted on this wetland habitat • Coming in 2023: New parking lot and trail connections
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments Royal Oaks
Expansion of Indian Hollow Reservation • Opened in 2015 • Former golf course • Three small, catch-and-release ponds • Nearly 97 acres reclaimed for nature and connected to Sheldon Woods
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments Kopf Family Golf Course at Cherry Ridge • 9-hole golf course • Assumed operation in 2021 • Located in an oxbow of the Black River
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments Century Park
• Entered into an agreement with the City of Lorain to maintain the property in 2020 • An important part of our efforts to improve public access to the lake
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments Lakeview Park Playground •
To be completed by end of 2023
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Accomplishments North Coast Inland Trail
• Crucial links were completed in Elyria and Lorain • Over 65 miles from Lorain to Toledo • Lorain County section is just over 29 miles • Port of Lorain trailhead at Mile 0.0 in collaboration with O.D.N.R. and Lorain Port Authority • Portions of the trail established as U.S. bike routes
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A c c o m p l i s h m e n t s : Maintenance, Repair, and Renovation projects Butterfly House Renovation • Miller Nature Preserve (pictured) Raptor Center Amphitheater • Carlisle Reservation Roof Replacements • Splash Zone • Amherst HealthPlex Kopf Family Reservation Renovations • Restrooms built • Playground renovated Parking Lots built/Repaved • Amherst HealthPlex, Amherst Beaver Creek (Brandt Street), Carlisle Reservation (Equestrian Center & Visitor Center), Cassell Reservation, Forest Hills Golf Course, The North Star Preserve, Sandy Ridge Reservation Various Playgrounds built/renovated • Amherst Beaver Creek, Carlisle Reservation, Cascade Park, French Creek Reservation, Kopf Family Reservation, Vermilion River Reservation
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Public Survey
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Public Survey Value to You as County Resident Quality of Parks & Trails
Rate your level of SATISFACTION with the following LCMP offerings...
25%
70%
4%
33%
62%
4%
Park Accessibility
57%
35%
7%
Cleanliness & Upkeep
55%
38%
6%
Helpfulness of LCMP Staff
52%
Knowledge of Staff & Instructors
31% 32%
48%
Availability/Variety of Programs
41%
41%
Quality of Amenities
39%
48%
0% Very Satisfied
20% Satisfied
16%
40% Neutral
60% Dissatisfied
19% 16% 11% 80% Very Dissatisfied
100%
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Public Survey
Please rank the following services
Q11. RATINGS x SERVICE QUALITY
Q11. AVERAGE SATISFACTION
Cleanliness
999
741
85
Cleanliness
3.48
Park Safety
945
802
80
Park Safety
3.46
Park Maintenance
999
741
73
Park Maintenance
3.49
Nature Trails
986
699
Nature Trails
3.52
64
3.23
Restrooms
637
876
Customer Service
743
589
116
Customer Service
3.40
Nature Programs
723
657
80
Nature Programs
3.43
Bikeways
711
646
76
Bikeways
3.43
Restrooms
179
Playgrounds
540
696
93
Playgrounds
3.31
Special Events
594
604
94
Special Events
3.37
Cultural Programs
3.25
Cultural Programs
484
581
Meeting Rooms
527
457
0
250
500
750
138 74
Excellent Good Fair Poor
1,000 1,250 1,500 1,750
3.40
Meeting Rooms 1 2 3 Rubric: Excellent = 4, Good = 3, Fair = 2, Poor = 1
4
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Public Survey
Major Priority
Minor Priority
NA/IDK
Land Acq. [to conserve & preserve, incl. along Lake Erie]
67%
22% 5%
65%
Walking Trails
What services/facilities should the Metro Parks consider PRIORITIZING in the future?
Not a Priority
28%
Conservation Initiatives
59%
29%
Lakefront Access
59%
29%
Land Acquisition [to improve air & water quality]
53%
30%
48%
Nature Programming
Park Connectivity
39%
Expand Existing Parks
38%
More Parks
34%
More Bike Trails
34%
39% 40% 43% 41%
25%
Concerts
0%
10%
20%
45% 30%
40%
50%
60%
18%
7%
13%
8%
10%
11%
7%
13% 18% 14%
17%
48%
21%
Outdoor Ampitheaters
8% 5%
14%
41%
11%
9%
19%
11% 70%
7% 10%
8%
39%
31%
Playgrounds
6%
8%
31%
41%
Senior Events
7% 5%
40%
44%
Children's Programs
7%
22% 80%
90%
100%
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
St r at e g i c P l a n | 2 0 24- 2 0 3 4
A Vision for the future
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A vision for the future | 2024-2034 Hallmarks of the Lorain County Metro Parks • • • • •
Clean and Safe Fiscal Responsibility Preservation and Conservation of the County’s precious natural resources Recreation and Education Public Access
Comprehensive Master Plan Goals 1
To acquire, preserve, and conserve the diverse environmental habitats throughout Lorain County while meeting the needs of all citizens into the future.
2
To meet the recreational, environmental, and educational demands of our public, while promoting a healthier community and an appreciation for our unique natural resources.
3
To sustain safe, well-maintained facilities, accessible to everyone.
4
Recruit and retain high-quality employees at competitive wages to properly manage and maintain the growing Park District and natural assets within.
5
To collaborate on projects and initiatives that encourage a reclamation and redevelopment of land for public use and identify opportunities for Lake Erie development, thereby creating better public access.
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A vision for the future | 2024-2034
Future Projects
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Cassell Reservation: Phase 2
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Sandy Ridge West
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Cascade Park: Phase 2
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future French Creek Greenway
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Pony Trail of Lorain
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Grafton/Royal Oaks Connector
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Avon Wetlands Extension
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Michael’s Locust Park
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Dorlon Reservation
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future The North Star Preserve: Phase 2
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Lakefront Access
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
A Vision for the Future Avon Lake Power PLant
Lorain County Metropolitan Park District
Thank You for your Support
Questions? • Call (440) 458-5121 • Administration Offices: 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange, OH 44050
For a copy of our Strategic Plan, visit loraincountymetroparks.com/administration