walking tour of mill creek park history this weekend

I was walking to the vegetarian gathering at Slippery Walk Pavilion over the weekend, and the combination of the weather, the scenery, and the meal awaiting me - can only be summarized in one word.

perfect.

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How many of us realize how absolutely unique something like Mill Creek Park is in the world?

I'm sure many of you have travelled to many cities and have seen their parks, but really, Mill Creek Park is exquisitly different.

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It's not just a rectangular parcel of land with trees, grass, and public space that you'll find in many places.

It's a living sculpture, whose walking paths and tributaries meander through forest and stone. It's an ecosystem, filled with wildlife and singing birds. It's a playground, open for anyone who wishes to explore its trails and run in its fields.

And it's a point of pride for Youngstown.

Not many other place in the world (trust me) have anything reasonably similar to this place.

The little details of the park's design are what's remarkable as well. The stone bridges that are everwhere. The rocks, big and small, placed thoughout its trails and riverbeds. The cascading waterfalls by the lakes.

All designed by landscape architects, and built with the sweat of individual laborers.

Hundreds and hundreds of homes thoughout Youngstown border the narrow park, now covering 2,600 acres. Here then are some pictures from the short hike, just a sampling of what the place has to offer:
















and now dessert . . . fresh blueberries and pie to wrap things up


But besides the physical beauty, there are many special events apart from the usual golfing, gardens, and greenery one can see every day. Happenings such as yoga, kayaking at sunset, wildflower hikes, music concerts, and crayfish hunts are all occuring this month.

You can see the entire special events calendar here.

And on this Sunday, July 8th at 2pm, there will be a hike describing the history of some of the park's most unique places.

Ed Galaida: Mill Creek Park's First Historian
Meet at Ford Nature Center
July 8, Sunday, 2 p.m.

(In 1941, Ed Galaida wrote the first history of Mill Creek Park at its half-century mark. His friend, naturalist emeritus Bill Whitehouse, will reflect on Galaida's contributions through readings and personal memories. Moderate difficulty, 2 miles.)