​Hi Jeff, Bill and All,

I have to speak up in defense of the Geauga Parks.  They still have a great
staff of naturalists and do great conservation work.  They also had a huge
budget surplus that resulted in the park board looking for ways to spend,
which was some of the motivation to move toward ​recreation.  Judge Grendel
ordered a suspension of collection of the levy so the surplus would be
spent down.

Lake County Metroparks provide a model for what happens when a park
district has lots of cash to spend.  Since the passage of the additional
levy (a recount was required to pass this) they have gone on a building and
paving binge.  New asphalt going down all over the system and lots of
crushed limestone, which alters soil chemistry, on trails.  Lake County is
a district that does not do free public nature programs and is very
recreation oriented. The Naturalist staff are great and very knowledgeable,
but if they are doing a public program have to justify it with a fee.
There are plenty of boater safety programs and the like as well.

Keep in mind that Lake County Parks cleared several acres of old growth
forest on Gildersleeve Mountain to put in a playground no one uses.  You
gotta spend or you end up with a surplus like Geauga.

If you look at the Cleveland Metroparks there is a growing controversy over
the salary of the director who has received raises of over 50% and now
makes well over $200,000 per year. More than the director of the US
National Park Service.

If you are concerned about your county park system the best recourse you
have is to get a probate judge elected who reflects the ethos you feel the
parks should follow.  In Geauga County Grendel ran unopposed during the
last election cycle.

Haans
Kirtland

On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 9:58 AM, Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Thanks, Jeff--
>        Yeah, if I had to pick the worst model for a metropark, it would be
> Geauga's. There are plenty of playgrounds, and if we really want more
> they should come from brownfields and blighted neighborhoods and the
> sites of failed department stores. Want gun ranges, bike races, exercise
> equipment, regattas, fireworks, etc.? That's cool, but don't despoil
> remnants of the natural environment. I'm pretty proud of my local
> metroparks, but don't close my eyes on them. Oh yeah, I had half a dozen
> TVs over the back yard this morning...
> Bill Whan
> Franklin Co.
>
>
> On 3/3/2016 8:57 AM, Jeff Harvey wrote:
>
>> Education is the key to bird conservation and this is a warning to
>> all who believe in birds, habitat and the future. Our Mill Creek
>> MetroParks in Mahoning County has joined Geauga Parks in their
>> attempt to change the focus from nature education and the importance
>> of habitat and natural areas to making money. Recreation and money
>> making ventures are now their focus. They deny this. Our park
>> director fired our only full time naturalist, award winning
>> naturalist Ray Novonty. Nature education doesn't pay for itself. Our
>> natural areas are underfunded. Invasive species control is
>> nonexistent, and they allow trapping. They recently made the news for
>> trapping a River Otter. If you think your park is different, please
>> pay attention because the focus can change in a blink of an eye. We
>> are fighting back in our county and you need to pay close attention
>> to what is happening at your parks. I did have 3 Rusty Blackbirds in
>> my yard this morning. Jeff Harvey          Mahoning County
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
> Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
> Please consider joining our Society, at
> www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
> Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
>
>
> You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
> listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
> Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]
>

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.


You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]