The Portage Park District is concerned about ensuring the health and safety of all our park patrons during this COVID-19 pandemic. Our parks and trails remain open and we encourage the public to enjoy the great outdoors to support physical and mental health while continuing to follow the guidance of our health experts to maintain social distancing. To discourage unnecessary public interactions, we have suspended our educational programming and special events until further notice.
| Our park maintenance staff continue to monitor and clean our facilities, however, most of our small administrative staff will be working remotely. The Park District administration offices on Oakwood St. in Ravenna will be open on a variable schedule only and by appointment as needed; we apologize for any inconvenience and encourage the use of email, phone and social media interaction to connect with us. We ask that completed Wild Hikes Challenge forms, permit applications and job applications are mailed or scanned and emailed in the interim. In an effort to help fill the gap of activities and learning opportunities from school and community program cancellations, our creative public engagement staff will be posting to our website and Facebook page some virtual nature lessons and suggestions for how you can continue to enjoy and learn about the natural world on your own, and share your discoveries and questions with others. We wish the best of health and resilience to all as we all weather this storm in different ways and we look forward to resuming our park programs and events as soon as is prudent this spring. Thank you for your understanding and support, be well! Christine Craycroft Executive Director Helpful links for up to date information COVID19 related information Board Meetings Programs Programs and EducationRemote Learning coming soonJoin us in our adventure as we navigate into the world of remote nature education. We are working on so many fun ideas to share to keep minds and bodies active, no matter your age! Watch our trailer to get excited about what’s in store by clicking the photo of our fearless education coordinator, Jen. A Quest for Remote Education Look for these topics and more on our website and social media pages. Ask a naturalistScavenger HuntsMeditation and YogaPoints of InterestPodcastsVirtual Hikes This Issue In the parksPrograms Wild Hikes Outdoor Safety Our parks will likely be a busy place as people are following the precautions we have shared. Additionally, keep in mind of the following safety tips: -Watch for poison ivy that hasn’t produced leaves yet-Keep dogs on leash and clean up after them-Wear your bike helmet For a complete refresher on park rules and regulations click here. Cuyahoga River Water TrailAs a managing partner of the Cuyahoga River Water Trail (CRWT), we are excited to share it’s new brochure. The brochure includes a map with all public access points and water safety guidelines for paddling and planning your trips. Click here to visit the Cuyahoga River Water Trail website where you can download the full brochure. Other resources for remote nature education 10 Nature Activities to help your family get through the pandemic List of live animal cameras –click here Ohio Department of Natural Resources NASA online courses Like us on FacebookFollow on Twitter |
| Wild Hikes Challenge 2020 – Year of the Owl2020 ushers in the Year of the Owl for the Portage Park District Wild Hikes Challenge. Our trusty mascot, Owlbert, is particularly excited about this year’s theme. Owls are fascinating, mysterious creatures that are abundant in our county. To participate complete 8 of the following trails before December 31st to earn a hiking staff (1st year) and/or a 2020 Wild Hikes medallion. Forms can be downloaded here. |
