Other Problematic Issues

A History of Animal extermination.

Since he was hired as the Director of Mill Creek Park in January, 2015, Aaron Young has not been a friend of wildlife. According to the Vindicator article published 7-11-2015, he refused to develop any written policies on wildlife management. At that time, a group of concerned citizens known as Save the Wildlife in Mill Creek Park, “formed in the wake of the park system’s euthanization of 238 geese” in 2014. The group pushed for use of nonlethal methods of managing wildlife as well as a better communication to the public when such methods are being considered. But, as reported in that article, “the park leadership has no plans to implement such a policy”.

Then, in March, 2016, the Vindicator again reported on wildlife deaths when a river otter was caught in a trap. Although the otter was alive and subsequently released back into the wild, the activity was sanctioned by the park as a deadly control for muskrats and beaver. The person responsible for the traps was part of the park’s wildlife and habitat management efforts, and received misdemeanor charges from Ohio Department of Natural Resources for failing to tag a trap and for improper use of the size of the trap. The paper also noted that the trap permits expired 3 days before the occurrence of the incident. And, it was also stated by the wildlife group advocates that river otters were trying to make a population comeback in our area.

Fast forward to today where the park has been basking in the “successful” killing of 204 deer in Mill Creek Metro Parks. One may go to their website and see the 2023-2024 End of year Summary of the Deer Management program that is full of what initially appears to be a well researched, statically oriented survey summary. A closer look reveals an interpretation of data, skewed in favor of the park, that leaves one scratching their head and saying, “where did this come from?” A photo of a sign displaying the words “Controlled Archery Hunt in progress. Park is open” is the first clue that something is amiss. Why would the park remain open while hunting is in progress? Aren’t there any safe hours to hike or walk your dog? A bit further into the survey, its noted that there were 3 reports of negative interactions from hikers toward hunters. What would you do if you were taking a leisurely walk and turned the wooded corner only to come face to face with a camouflage wearing guy carrying a crossbow? The safety concerns of humans are real and also include hunters having permission to walk through your property if it buts up against park land. I mention this survey because the park does acknowledge an incident where a deer with an arrow stuck in its neck, was photographed running around a homeowner’s backyard. The park took no responsibility for the injured animal (summary, page 10). Other neighbors have had the unfortunate experience of having a deer die in their front yard. One woman was able to take a picture of a deer that was gutted and left to rot just outside of the Saw Mill Preserve.

Lawsuits

The Ohio Supreme Court is currently involved with Mill Creek Metro Park’s lawsuit against Diane Less, founder of Angels for Animals, the mega cat and dog rescue operation. The park had tried to take land owned by Less in order to create access for the Metropark bikeway in southern Mahoning County. This courtroom exchange has been going on since 2019 and legal fees of both parties have exceeded $200,000 . Recently, in the Fourth District Court of Appeals, in Circleville, “ruled in favor of Less because it found that the MetroParks did not have the authority to appropriate the right of way for a bike trail. Less noted that her family had occupied the property for over 100 years.

Also current is the lawsuit between the park and the donor of the McGuffey Preserve, Richard Scarsella. The wildlife preserve, which is located in Coitsville, was donated to Mill Creek Metroparks in the 1980’s but has become a concern to the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society, of which Scarcella is chairman. For the last 2 years, Scarcella has been asking the park to maintain and restore the property to the condition it was in when donated. He has come forward and requested that Ohio Department of Natural Resources assist by taking over maintenance and/or ownership of the land but the park refused. The lawsuit, however, is about director Young’s comments, according to Scarsella’s attorney, David Engler. Engler said in a December 29, 2023 interview with WKBN news, “the official Mill Creek MetroParks Facebook page and through other media outlets accused Richard S. Scarsella of criminal activity, comprising of unequivocal allegations that Richard S. Scarcella is an ‘extortionist’ that ‘coerced’ constituents. Scarcella also said that “The McGuffey Wildlife Preserve was designated a National Historic Landmark under the Department of Interior National Park Service history, architecture, culture and other aspects of our national heritage”.

Mill creek lily pond

In April 2018, Mill Creek Metroparks reached a settlement, filed by Patricia Tinkler and Mitchell Lynch of Friends Roastery, for $2.2 million. The couple operated a cafe at Fellows Riverside Gardens and criticized what they called the “dramatic upheavals” that followed the appointment of Aaron Young as the park district’s executive director. In the 2018 Vindicator article, Lynch said “Young told him Friends had become detrimental to Mill Creek MetroParks and that they had 3 strikes”. The park board terminated Friends’ lease about a year and a half before it was set to expire. The strikes allegedly included Lynch liking a Facebook post that criticized Young, and Tinkler telling someone the controversy around Young hurting their business. The last strike occurred “when Lynch told an intern he heard she had an affair with a park employee, the complaint said.”

In the same year, there were trail and project improvements made at Vickers Nature Preserve, a 262 acre preserve located on Rt. 224 in Ellsworth Township. Parking lot improvements as well as many new signs were made. This was a partnership between Mill Creek Metroparks and Buckeye Horse Park in which grant money was obtained. The $2190. grant, awarded by the American Quarter Horse Association, aimed to enhance the overall trail experience throughout Vickers Nature Preserve for both hikers and equestrian riders. The Buckeye Horse Park is a nonprofit group that provides educational and competitive equestrian opportunities. They had leased portions of Vickers Preserve for 25 years with the most recent rent being $3,600 per month in 2018. Problems were cited with the new lease, of which the rents became unaffordable. After several negotiations of the lease, Aaron Young simply called the Horse Park’s attorney to inform him that the contract was cancelled. Volunteers were heartbroken to find that their relationship with the park had abruptly ended. “Attorney Darrell Marijohn who represented the horse park said the volunteers built and maintained the barns, show ring and trails on Rt. 224”, stated Stan Boney in a June 7, 2019 piece on WYTV. The attorney later advised the horse farm against taking the park to court. Today, the facility appears run down and abandoned.

Also noteworthy was a lawsuit in June, 2016 involving 3 private citizens who challenged the park “reorganization” stating 28 workers were unjustly terminated and there were violation of Sunshine laws. Apparently, the lawsuit did not go forward as planned as there are no resolutions to be found.

Save the Mill Creek Park Deer currently has a lawsuit against the park to stop the hunt. Please refer to the HOME page.

Decreased and eliminated services and programs

Cabin rentals and golf fees have gone up several times since director Young was appointed. And now, there are charges for educator led hikes and “healthy living” programs. The music concert series held at the Morley Pavillion for many years, was discontinued this year. Folks reminisce about the 7UP Summerfest Spectacular which has been gone for several years now. Also at the Morley but now extinct, were Shakespearian festivals and plays hosted by the Mahoning Valley Players. Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens (FFRG) sponsored several major events that drew thousands of visitors to the MetroParks. To just name a few, there was the annual orchid exhibit, garden author lectures, and the children’s gardens, complete with many outdoor and indoor activities. The group Alliance for Watershed Action and Resource Education (AWARE) hosted an annual fall environmental festival, where many environmental and governmental organizations had displays and demonstrations. The Ford Nature Center conducted their long tradition of lectures for both adults and children along with many guest presenters. Now deceased, naturalist emeritus, Bill Whitehouse, and Ray Novotny, the naturalist laid off by Young’s reorganization plan were familiar and respected figures that could be counted on to deliver 5 star presentations at least twice monthly. Many citizens, like myself, miss the annual April Kite Fest that reminded us that spring was around the corner. Its tough to say goodbye because those were the “good old days” of Mill Creek Park.

The Board of Commisioners focus seems to be on the golf course. Dr Donald Allen, one of the four plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed to stop the deer reduction plan, Boardman veterinarian, and 30 year Mill Creek Park resident said in a recent Vindicator interview “instead of focusing on the golf courses, “Return that land to nature and stop poisoning the soil to create pristine grass. Stop killing the beavers, river otters, deer, Canada geese and other creatures in the park.” $749,035 was spent in 2023 for the new indoor training facility.