Mill Creek MetroParks

I can not think of any park that compares to Mill Creek regardless of the season. Walking through Fellowship Gardens any time of the year is like being in a movie. I have paid hefty admission fees to walk thru gardens that are no where near as manicured or large. Gazebos and benches provide seating so one can just rest in a setting made for a calendar. There are overlooks that allow views of Glacier Lake far below.
A summer Sunday sitting on the huge deck eating brunch lets one sample the good life. There are hiking trails throughout the park that take you past turtles in a pond, along the lake, or on wooded hills. The boat ride is with no doubt the best bargain in Ohio.
Driving through the park one crosses the most beautiful little bridge where it is impossible not to park the car and get out the camera. Not far from the bridge is the old mill that one has to walk along a hillside to reach. The mill still functions and sells coarse ground corn meal. Next to the mill is a covered bridge that beckons you to cross.
I used to be in the Warren-​Niles-​Youngstown area frequently but that part of my life is past. On my wall are framed pictures of the mill and the bridge reminding me of the picnics, hikes, boat rides and brunches I enjoyed at Mill Creek Park. My screen saver is a view of the sunflowers growing along the weathered siding of the mill.
Mill Creek taught me a lesson. Every place has something magical if one looks for it. Paris, San Francisco, or any place would welcome a park like this one to add to their lists of how-​wonderful-​we-​are. I have to drive those eighty miles soon to return to Youngstown’s Mill Creek Park.

What a gem. Created over a century ago to provide the local population with a refuge from the soot, smoke and general grime of the blast furnaces, this sprawling greenscape is still so very beautiful. The blast furnaces are gone, but that doesn’t diminish the value or the beauty of this place.
There are so many aspects of the park to enjoy, from the Fellow’s Riverside Gardens, to the picnic areas, to Glacier Lake, to the free live performances at the Morley Pavilion. I personally use the jogging trail accessible directly from US224 in Boardman (or very near the Golf Course parking). The trail is a 1.5 mile stretch, marked every .25 mile, providing 3 miles round trip. The leaves this fall were especially beautiful along the jogging trail.
If you’re from here, you know this place is excellent. If you’re visiting and looking for a place to relax in nature, check it out.