A Vision for Lorain County Metro Parks - presentation

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