Seneca Ponds Park - photo credit Jennifer Robinson

October 3, 2024

Happy Autumn!

October begins the fall color show in your Portage Parks! It is a stunning time of year to start and finish the Wild Hikes Challenge!

We are thrilled to share some park project updates in this issue. Work is already underway on repaving the PPD section of the Portage Hike & Bike Trail, with the Franklin Connector Trail to soon follow. The long-awaited opening of the new park on Howe Road is expected in late 2025 and we would love your feedback on our preliminary design plan.

Our Fall Program Guide is now available online and posted in our park kiosks. There are so many fun programs scheduled this fall - please register to join us!

In the Parks

Improvements Underway on Portage Hike & Bike Trail

Work is currently underway to repair and repave the Portage Hike & Bike Trail from Oakwood Street in Ravenna to Riverbend in Kent. The trail was last paved in 2015 and frequent trail users have likely noticed sections of the asphalt heaving or cracking. Read more

New Park Development Plans

We are excited to share our preliminary plans for the development of a new park on Howe Road in Kent/Brimfield Township, which we plan to open by the end of 2025. We welcome your ideas, feedback, and park name suggestions!

Student Research & Stewardship Project Partners

Portage Park District has a long history of partnering with local universities and high schools for research and stewardship projects on park properties. Kent State University (pictured), Kent Roosevelt High School, and BioMed Academy students are participating this year! Read More

Upcoming Programs

Rocktober is Back!

The Rocktober Museum is back for a second year to highlight all things geology! Portage County history, hands-on exhibits, and of course the glow-in-the-dark rock room will be fun for all ages! Join us at various times from October 10-12 for this pop-up mini museum!

Thursday, October 10 5:00-8:00pm

Friday, October 11 5:00-8:00pm

Saturday, October 12 1:00pm-4:00pm

Creepy Critters Hike

October 7 @ 5:30pm

Creepy looking critters can be found all around us, but they can be pretty cool! We will explore along the trail and learn some fascinating facts about local creatures like spiders, snakes, bats, and insects.

Hearth Health

October 16 @ 6pm

It is never a bad time to work on your cardiovascular system and Sequoia Wellness will be on hand to get us started. Join us for a presentation on heart health and bring your questions for the health experts!

Citizen Science

Clean Up

October 23 @ 2pm

Join us to clean up the park and contribute to citizen science data! We'll use an app to see what kind of litter is out there, where it is coming from, and how best to manage it.

Portage Park District Foundation

Foundation Online Store

Have you visited the Portage Park District Foundation's Online Store? They offer a variety of park branded items for sale!

Memorial Donations

The Foundation offers opportunities to donate in honor of loved ones or to leave a legacy through our Reforest Portage Parks program.

Wild Hikes Challenge 2024

The 2024 Wild Hikes Challenge is the Year of the Eclipse to honor the historic total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Portage County was in the path of totality and it was a spectacular experience! Download your Wild Hikes form and earn your eclipse medallion and hiking staff this year!

Teacher Tote Now Available!

Bring the Parks to Your Classroom

We are excited to announce that our first in a series of Teacher Totes is ready to be reserved! This ecology-based ready-to-use kit has adaptable lesson plans, activities, and materials curated specifically to bring the Portage Parks to your classroom. Activities are aligned with state standards and offer real world connections. To learn more or to reserve the tote, email Holly at hstoneberg@portageparkdistrict.org.

Park Fan Spotlight

60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland

60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland by Diane Stressing showcases the best and most beautiful hikes in northeast Ohio. We are pleased that Portage Park District hikes and programs are often featured on their Facebook page. We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful region!

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