Fishing For Beginners | Parks Ready For Snowy Fun

12/29/2011 – West Side Leader

Sledding, ice skating, ice fishing and cross-country skiing are among the activities available at Metro Parks, Serving Summit County parks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP).

Nate Eppink, Metro Parks spokesman, said sledding is by far the most common activity in the district’s parks this time of year.

“Firestone and Goodyear Heights [Metro Parks] are both very popular for sledding,” he said. “Goodyear Heights, especially because of the size of the hill, you can get some great speed there.”

Several sled areas are lighted. Eppink said parks are open for activity through 11 p.m., unless otherwise posted.

In the Metro Parks, lighted sledding areas are located in the Oxbow Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park, 1061 Cuyahoga St.; Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 2077 Newton St.; the Lake Area at Munroe Falls Metro Park, 521 S. River Road; and the North Hawkins Area at Sand Run Metro Park, 800 N. Hawkins Ave.

Nonlighted sled areas are located at Firestone Metro Park, which features hills at the drop-off at 55 E. Warner Road and the small hill at the Tuscarawas Meadows Area, 2620 Harrington Road. Sledding is also available at Furnace Run Metro Park in Richfield, in the Brushwood Area, 4955 Townsend Road.

Warming fires are lit at all areas, and bathrooms are available in the parks. Those who go to Furnace Run should note the restrooms there will be upgraded beginning Jan. 2 and closed for up to four weeks. Temporary facilities will be provided.

All three of the district’s ice skating areas are lighted. They are located at the Brushwood Area of Furnace Run; the Big Bend Area of Sand Run Metro Park, 1337 Merriman Road; and Gorge Metro Park, 1160 Front St., in Cuyahoga Falls.

Eppink said Furnace Run has the only actual pond used for skating. The other areas are open spaces with depressions filled in with water.

Cross-country skiing enthusiasts will find two new trails this season, Eppink said. They are the Prairie Trail in Springfield Bog Metro Park, 1400 Portage Line Road, Springfield Township, and the Meadow Trail, 1088 North Ave., Tallmadge, in the Tallmadge Meadows area of Munroe Falls Metro Park.

Skiing trails also are found at the Chuckery Area of Cascade Valley, 837 Cuyahoga St.; the Warner Road Area of Firestone Metro Park, 200 E. Warner Road; the Brushwood Area at Furnace Run; the Alder Trail in Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 550 Frazier Ave.; in the Lake Area of Munroe Falls Metro Park; and the Pheasant Run and Chippewa trails at Silver Creek Metro Park, 5000 Hametown Road, in Norton.

Eppink advised winter sports participants to dress appropriately for the weather and use all areas at their own risk. Also, he added children should always be accompanied by adults in the parks. He also noted visitors should heed signs when areas are closed.

In addition, Eppink advised that anyone heading out to sled, ski or skate in the parks call the district’s Winter Sports Hotline, 330-865-8060, or get updates via Twitter (follow@metro_parks).

In CVNP, sledding takes place at Kendall Hills on Quick Road in Peninsula. Parking is available at the Pine Hollow, Crow Foot Gully and Little Meadow lots.

Park officials said there are many miles of trails for cross-country skiing available. Suggested trails are the Bike Hike Trail, Boston Run Trail, Cross County Trail, Ledges Field, Oak Hill Trail, Ohio Erie Canal Towpath Trail and the Tree Farm Trail.

CVNP, through its Winter Sports Center at Kendall Lake, features rental of cross-country equipment as well as workshops for beginners. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when there are 4 inches or more of snow on Saturdays and Sundays in December, January and February; daily, through Dec. 31; and Martin Luther King Day and Presidents’ Day.

The center is located on Truxell/Kendall Park Road in Peninsula.

Skis for adults and children are rented for $15 per day or $7.50 for three hours, payable by cash or check only. A driver’s license or credit card is required as a deposit.

Upcoming instructional classes include Beginning Cross-Country Skiing, Dec. 31 or Jan. 8, 14 and Feb. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The class will take place with or without snow. The cost is $10 with the participant’s own equipment or $15 if equipment is rented. Registration is required by calling 800-257-9477.

A beginner’s workshop for children ages 7-9 will take place Jan. 7 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and for ages 10-12 Jan. 29 at the same time. A parent is required to participate at no charge. To register, call 800-642-3297, ext. 100.

CVNP also offers advanced workshops for those who have some experience.

In addition, the center also has snowshoes for rent for $5 and offers workshops. The Kids’ Snowshoe Workshop is scheduled for Dec. 31 and Jan. 16 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. for children ages 7-12. The cost is $8, but free for an accompanying parent. To register, call 800-642-3297, ext. 100.

Snowshoe hikes also are scheduled throughout the season.

In CVNP, ice fishing is allowed in lakes and ponds, although Kendall Lake is currently closed. Ice thickness is not monitored, so fishermen are advised to be careful when heading out on the ice.

For more information on these and all the other events in CVNP, go to www.nps.gov/cuva or call the Boston Store Visitors Center at 330-657-2752.

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