November 3, 2009 • 11:31 pm 1
Gary Leitzell is the next mayor of Dayton!
This is a great day and a new day really is dawning for Dayton. David Esrati lost his race but I hope he can play an active role at City Hall or as an advisor to Mayor-elect Leitzell.
DDN Staff photo by Peter Wine
In other good news, the libraries and metroparks were both overwhelmingly supported. Yippee!
Filed under: Assertive citizenry, David Esrati, Dayton politics, Five Rivers Metroparks, Gary Leitzell
October 28, 2009 • 7:22 pm 0
This REALLY COOL idea comes via Metroparks.org:
125 miles. 18 MetroParks. 7 days.
By now, most Miami Valley residents know of Five Rivers MetroParks and have been to at least one facility; however, lots of people are not aware of just how many facilities there are or where they are located throughout the county. Former MetroParks employee Angie Sullivan wanted to do something to raise awareness about the park system and educate the public about the fantastic albeit untapped resources to which they have free access. “Most folks I talk to might be familiar with one or two parks they frequent, but when I tell them we have 25 facilities located throughout the county, they’re shocked,” Sullivan says. Thus, the Kettering resident decided to do something that would showcase all Five Rivers MetroParks has to offer:
Sullivan, along with her fiancé Shane Sheldon, will hike to each MetroPark in just one week.
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The couple will cover about 125 miles in approximately seven days, blogging, tweeting and snapping photos of the parks along the way. “We thought this would be a great way for people at home to take a virtual tour of all the MetroParks,” says Five Rivers MetroParks Outdoor Recreation Department Director Greg Brumitt. “It’s imperative during this election season that we make sure the voters know exactly what they get with a ‘yes’ vote – or what they’ll miss out on if they vote ‘no.’ Our park-wide festivals and entertainment events are fun, but if you just visit the parks during festivals, you’re not getting the whole picture. Park Trek will raise awareness of all our facilities in a context of nature and conservation, the core reasons why citizens founded the MetroParks in 1963.”
Park Trek will start and end in downtown Dayton. A kickoff celebration took place at Issue 4 campaign headquarters before they took off for RiverScape MetroPark, then lunched at the National City 2nd Street Market. Then, Sullivan and Sheldon headed off to Eastwood, Huffman and Carriage Hill MetroParks. The next day, the couple traveled to Taylorsville, Aullwood Garden and Englewood MetroParks. Monday’s stops included Trotwood’s Wetland Mitigation Bank, then on to camp at Germantown MetroPark. On Tuesday, the couple will hike to Twin Creek and Possum Creek MetroParks, followed by Cox Arboretum and Sugarcreek MetroParks on Wednesday. Hills & Dales, Sunrise and Wesleyan make up day six of Park Trek, and Sullivan and Sheldon wrap up the first-ever Five Rivers MetroPark facility circumnavigation at Wegerzyn Gardens, Island and Deeds Point MetroParks. The public is invited to welcome Sullivan and Sheldon back when they reach Deeds Point at approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30. “We’ll be tired, for sure, but hopefully it will all be worth it to make people aware of this great park system they have,” Sullivan says.
Sullivan and Sheldon say they understand the importance and unique value of Park Trek, and they are looking forward to getting to know the MetroParks in a new way as well as generate awareness about the park system. “I know what people might think when I tell them Shane and I are going to hike 125 miles in a week,” Sullivan laughs. “But we love taking on challenges like this. It took us five months to hike the 2,170-mile Appalachian Trail, so I think it’s safe to say we’re prepared for Park Trek.”
Follow Angie and Shane’s Park Trek on their Trail Journal blog, Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter.
Filed under: Assertive citizenry, Five Rivers Metroparks, bicycle friendly, biking, ideas for Dayton Ohio, leadership, parks
July 17, 2009 • 12:00 pm 0
We have been busy this summer building the campaign team, signing up volunteers, and establishing campaign headquarters.
This replacement issue is critical to the health of our community. We plan on working as hard as we can to make sure Montgomery County knows what’s at stake: 80% of the MetroParks budget.
We need your help! Our entire campaign must be paid for and run by volunteers. We know times are tough but we are hoping you can spare $10, $20, $50, $100 to help the campaign get the word out. Click here to make a donation to the Five Rivers MetroParks Levy Committee.
We expect to be in our campaign headquarters soon (scheduled for August 3) in the lobby at Kettering Tower, downtown Dayton. .. Hope you can stop in!
Thank you! Let’s work together to protect this community asset.
| GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN Help spread the word… |
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Nate Arnett
Grassroots Coordinator Hello all. I have the honor of organizing the grassroots effort for this critical campaign! Our goal is to make sure that people who value and rely on the Five Rivers MetroParks remember to VOTE this November. We have put together teams centered around nine of the parks and we hope you will join one of these teams. You can help for a little bit, or get very involved – your choice.To get in touch with a team leader, click on your choice below or contact me at nate.arnett1@gmail.com:  |
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Bob Siebenthaler, Campaign Treasurer As you probably know, every dime spent on the campaign to replace the Five Rivers MetroParks levy must be privately raised. We need funds for yard signs, campaign literature, and other expenses for getting the word out across Montgomery County. If many park lovers give just a little bit, we can get this job done. Please consider making a donation to the campaign. You can use PayPal or your credit card by clicking HERE, or send a check made out to Five Rivers MetroParks Levy Committee to PO Box 13593 , Dayton OH 45413-0593. Thank you for your support of this very critical campaign.
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Three ways to
visit the campaign
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1.) NEW Campaign Headquarters
(Scheduled to open August 3) Kettering Tower
(corner of 2nd Street and Jefferson downtown Dayton) 2.) NEW Facebook Page
(managed by volunteer Shanon Potts)
3.) Campaign website
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What’s the
Park Issue About?
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| A 1.8 mill replacement levy is on the ballot for the November 3 election for the Five Rivers MetroParks. The replacement levy would allow the parks to continue to provide clean safe access to nature and recreational facilities for all residents, close to home and free. The levy accounts for 80% of the park system’s operating budget and is the only levy for Five Rivers MetroParks. Without that funding, Five Rivers would be effectively unable to operate the parks for public access. With this replacement issue we can:
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Filed under: Five Rivers Metroparks, Future of Dayton , Dayton, Protect our Parks
May 9, 2009 • 8:10 am 0
Anthony Gottschlich has written two pieces on community gardens this week. Here they are:
Community gardens growing like weeds
DAYTON — In a vacant lot in McPherson Town, Aimee Noel and her neighbors cultivate the earth with visions of deep red tomatoes, green leafy lettuce and fresh brussels sprouts in their heads.
They spend hours each afternoon, weather permitting, transforming this rocky soil to fertile ground, planting seeds for food and friendship in a garden they hope will nourish this neighborhood for years to come.
“It’s just been really fantastic,” Noel said as she planted beans in her 9-by-12 plot, one of 24 in this lot along McPherson Street near downtown. “I’ve met people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. It’s kind of a gathering place now.”
The McPherson garden is just the latest among a growing number of community gardens to sprout up in the Dayton area under the Grow With Your Neighbors program of Fiver Rivers MetroParks.
“This has been the busiest year as long as most folks here can remember,” program manager Luci Beachdell said. “I had maybe three new groups last year and probably twice that many this year.”
While some neighborhoods, such as McPherson, garden for the love of it, Beachdell said the economy is the driving factor for others.
“People know they can save money by growing their own food instead of buying it, and it will taste better, too,” she said.
Established in 1986, Grow With Your Neighbors includes more than two dozen (mostly vegetable) gardens in Montgomery County, the majority of those in Dayton. Depending on a neighborhood’s needs, Five Rivers will help find a suitable location, test the soil for heavy metals, till the land, provide seeds and offer numerous tips and resources for successful gardening.
Noel said when she and neighbor Debbie Leibrock raised the garden idea to neighbors earlier this year, they got an “enthusiastic” response. Around 30 neighbors jumped in, including David Dominic, who offered the lot next door to his house and a water spigot, too.
The neighbors plan to share their bounty, and they’ll throw a harvest party at the end of the season.
“I would love for this to continue,” Noel said.
Want to start a garden?
For groups looking to start a community garden, Five Rivers will help. Some things to keep in mind:
• Decide on the size and scope of your garden ahead of time. Flowers, vegetables, a mixture of both?
• Is there a readily accessible water source? Work out a deal with a neighbor, if possible.
• Are you and your neighbors prepared to do the work and stick with it? Those who don’t won’t get help from Five Rivers.
• Consider liability insurance or at least a “hold harmless” waiver in case someone gets injured on the property.
• Minor theft. It’s not unusual for the unlawful sort to pluck the fruits of your labor.
For more information, contact Luci Beachdell at (937) 276-7053 or visit metroparks.org/gwyn
and today’s article:
Urban garden an oasis in tough times
Neighborhood plots put vacant lots to good use with help of parks program.
For groups looking to start a community garden, Five Rivers will help. Depending on a neighborhood’s needs, the park district will help find a suitable location, test the soil for heavy metals, till the land, provide seeds and offer numerous tips and resources for successful gardening.
The American author Orson Scott Card once said, “Unemployment is capitalism’s way of getting you to plant a garden.”
And so it goes in the Dayton area, too. With the economy in the dumper and food prices rising, interest in Five River MetroParks community gardening program is at unprecedented levels, park officials say.
“Mostly what I get are people wanting to find out how to use the vacant land in their neighborhoods to grow food,” said Luci Beachdell, manager of Five Rivers’ Grow With Your Neighbors community gardening program.
Established in 1986 to serve low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, Grow With Your Neighbors has expanded to more than two dozen (mostly vegetable) gardens today. Most are within Dayton’s city limits, Beachdell said, but interest is growing in suburban areas, and local schools are getting involved as well, including E.J. Brown Elementary in north Dayton.
“There’s tons of room for more community gardens in the Dayton area and lots of other places where people already can go,” Beachdell said.
In Wegerzyn Gardens off Siebenthaler Avenue, Five Rivers offers more than 300 28-by-28-foot plots that rent for $20 each per season. Possum Creek MetroPark at Ohio 4 and Frytown Road offers a similar deal, but for free.
Filed under: Assertive citizenry, Dayton Ohio, Five Rivers Metroparks, local first, urban gardens , community gardens, Dayton Ohio urban gardens, Grow With Your Neighbors
April 10, 2009 • 7:00 am 0
Peruse these fabulous photos from the Riverscape Phase III Groundbreaking. Looks great!
Filed under: Downtown Dayton, Five Rivers Metroparks, biking, riverfront development , bike hub, concert pavilion, Downtown Dayton, Riverscape
March 29, 2009 • 10:30 am 1
DAYTON — The third phase of the RiverScape park project should be a crowd-pleaser, officials say, with a covered outdoor entertainment pavilion and a well-equipped regional bike hub.
Five Rivers MetroParks plans to ceremonially break ground April 7 for the $7.5 million project on Monument Avenue at Patterson Boulevard. Construction will be ongoing until the facilities open in spring 2010.
The pavilion will have a stage for concerts and festivals in the summer and will convert to a large ice rink in winter. It will seat 1,800 under roof and accommodate up to 4,200 concert-goers seated around the park. The location of the current ice rink will remain a children’s sprinkler play park in summer.
The 5,000-square-foot bike hub building will offer secure bike storage for at least 35 bikes, as well as showers and lockers for those who pay a membership fee that has yet to be determined. The hub aims to promote use of the 270 miles of recreation trails in the region and offer a comfortable accommodation for workday commuters. There will be space for food vendors, too. Restrooms are included in the project.
“People are becoming increasingly concerned about the energy crisis, which will lead to even more people searching for alternative transportation,” said Carrie Scarff, deputy director of Five Rivers, on Friday, March 27.
Use of RiverScape has been growing. In summer, concerts and festivals pull in crowds, and in winter ice skating fans from all over the county use the facility, Scarff said. “RiverScape has been incredibly successful,” she said.
Covering the ice rink in winter will allow its use in bad weather. The rink will be engineered to allow an additional two months of use from November to March, Scarff said.
The contractor for the job has been selected through a bid process and will be identified after formal approvals, Scarff said.
The project is being financed with $4.7 million from a federal transportation grant obtained in 2005, Scarff said. (A big portion of the cost is environmental remediation and engineering, which comes to $1.7 million.) Another $57,000 for the project came from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the remainder is from levy funds.
RiverScape will remain open during the construction.
This artist’s rendering details plans for RiverScape. Five River MetroParks is planning a pavilion for concerts and festivals in the summer and will convert to a large ice rink in winter. It will seat 1,800 under the roof and accommodate up to 4,200 concert-goers. Also, a bike hub building will offer secure storage for at least 35 bikes. Image is courtesy of Five Rivers MetroParks
Filed under: Dayton Ohio, Downtown Dayton, Five Rivers Metroparks, Outdoor Recreation, nature, riverfront development , Dayton, Riverscape
March 6, 2009 • 7:00 am 5
DaytonOAC.com is a great forum for outdoor adventure enthusiasts in the Dayton area.
There are just over 300 members and quite a few active members. I was very happy to come across the site.
HERE is a thread about Downtown Springfield’s plans to create their river navigable, build rock climbing walls and landscape a large downtown park while connecting the urban core with bike paths. I blogged about it HERE.
Here’s an update on the Mad River whitewater park on the Mad River in Eastwood MetroPark.
Comment #8 of this thread was authored by “Wildwater” from Five Rivers Metroparks and says:
I understand the restless feeling and I share everyones “I am ready for a park now” feeling but unfortunatly all the bureaucratic red tape does take time. I hope that we will be moving forward with construction soon but on a brighter side it is awesome that we will have two sites so close together! Here is what is up with where we are in our process with the Dayton park:
The Mad River project is ongoing. The project has been in the design and permitting phase since Jan 2007. Engineering on the in-stream features are 95% complete. All environmental assessment and survey work has been completed. Five Rivers MetroParks and the City of Dayton recently completed a cooperative agreement regarding the design, operations and maintenance of the facility. The project has applied for and is pending approval of a Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 401 water quality permit and a US Army Corp of Engineers 404 construction permit. A decision on whether to move forward on the construction phase of the project will be made once permits are in hand. The Buck Creek project was in the permitting phase for 4 year and their efforts will help to shorten the process, we hope to receive all needed permits in 2009.
So there you have it. Don’t forget about Go4theOutdoors.com either!
| The Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) is a Dayton, Ohio based club whose primary focus is whitewater kayaking. We also have members interested in a myriad of outdoor sports who are always looking for people to play with or teach or learn from. We have bikers, runners, hikers and skiers and are always looking for more!The club has a very busy paddling schedule from early spring through late fall. We have trips to West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania among others to suit all skill levels. We can also help you find certified kayak instruction here in Ohio to get you started.
Our club is proud to have many family groups as members, and many of our camping trips feature activities for the non-paddler and children, including hiking, campfire science night, ice cream socials, pizza night and random good times. But after the kids go to bed, there is plenty of campfire entertainment for the adults! If you’re worried about noisy late nights you can camp in “geezerville” where posted quiet hours are strictly observed! Our club members often coordinate indoor events like hockey games, wine tastings and movies during our “down” time to enhance the relationships formed on the river and in camp. You will find new friends among the members of our club. The OAC is an AWA affiliate. |
Filed under: Dayton Ohio, Downtown Dayton, Five Rivers Metroparks, Future of Dayton, Outdoor Recreation, biking, ohio, parks , Dayton Outdoor Adventure Club, Dayton Outdoor Recreation, Dayton Whitewater Park, Kayaking, Mountain Biking
February 15, 2009 • 8:16 pm 0
This post comes from For the Love of Dayton’s good friend Franz. Thanks Franz!
Five Rivers Outdoors is at it again. This coming weekend, the hardworking guys and gals of FRO are putting on another one of their terrific outdoor adventure & recreation extravaganzas-The Adventure Summit. If any of our readers were so lucky to stop by GearFEST at Eastwood Metropark this September (earlier GearFEST had been hosted outside of 2nd Street Market), you can be assured to expect the same great program this coming weekend at Wright State University’s Student Union. For those new to Five Rivers Outdoors and their commitment to building an active and adventurous Dayton, here is what you can expect… in the middle of winter:
If you are taken aback by this list of incredible bullet points, end your confusion by visiting The Adventure Summit’s website. The site is packed with photos and photos from past events plus any additional information that you’ll need to know.
The Specifics:
Event: The Adventure Summit
Host: Five Rivers Outdoors-at the Student Union at Wright State University
When: February 20-21, 2009-02-15
Cost: Absolutely Nothing
Filed under: Dayton Ohio, Five Rivers Metroparks, Outdoor Recreation , Adventure Summit, Dayton Ohio, Five Rivers Outdoors, Wright State University
January 28, 2009 • 8:00 am 2
Hey everyone, I’m Seth and this is my first official post on For the Love of Dayton. I’ve done some posting at Dayton.MostMetro.com and UrbanOhio.com but this is my first public foray into my buddy’s blog. He’s let me troll around here before so I’m not exactly new.
Absolutely genius. That’s what this plan is.
What is the difference between the urban lovers/dwellers and those not ‘in the loop’? Our definition of downtown. Usually I would refer to downtown as the CBD (central business district for you outsiders) and perhaps add on Webster Station (Dayton Dragons / Fifth Third Field for you outsiders) and the Oregon District. I’d be willing to bet the “outsiders” would consider Brown St., the Dayton Art Institute, Miami Valley Hospital, South Park, and UD as downtown.
Engage in the conversation HERE.
This is how you get involved:
How You Can Get Involved
Calling all citizens with original ideas, it’s time to voice your opinion on what you want your downtown to look like in the future! Here’s how you can get involved.
- Answer a Few Questions
• Take our online survey or visit any Dayton Metro Library branch location to pick up a copy- Chat Away
• Various discussion threads have been setup on MostMetro.com and you can chat on everything from developing a green city to future housing ideas. Check out what others have to say and offer your opinion.- Public Input Sessions
There are three public meetings scheduled for anyone in the community to participate in. Don’t be shy, we promise the meetings will be informal and interesting for all who attend.
• Tuesday, February 10 at 12 noon at the Dayton Metro Library
• Thursday, February 12 at 5 p.m. at c{space, 20 N. Jefferson Street
• Tuesday, February 17 at 7 p.m. in the Charity Earley Auditorium, Ponitz Conference Center, at Sinclair Community College- Become Our Friend
Yes, we have a Facebook group. Become our friend and stay informed on additional meeting opportunities and plan progress. Our official name on Facebook is A Greater Downtown Dayton Plan.
And now two articles:
Groups line up to draft plan to revitalize downtown Dayton
Dayton Business Journal
Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 2:49pm ESTThe city of Dayton looks to draft a plan to develop what it has termed “greater downtown Dayton,” which includes the central business district and key institutions and neighborhoods surrounding it.
The officials said they will present a draft plan to the public in early June.
Michael Greitzer, co-chair of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Dayton City Manager Rashad Young and retired physician and community activist Dr. Michael Ervin, are leading the effort.
Ron Budzik, retired Mead Corp. executive and Downtown Dayton Partnership board member, and KeyBank Southwest Ohio District President Ed Reilly also are leading planning committees.
No funding is lined up, but sources will be identified during the planning process and the ability to fund projects may affect their priority ranking, officials said.
Officials are encouraging public comments to draft the plan and have scheduled three February meetings where comments will be heard. Details are available at downtowndayton.org.
“From an economic standpoint, downtown must remain attractive to businesses and employees,” Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin said.
Dayton has faced a barrage of bruising press last year, such as news of a $13 million budget gap and being named one of the country’s 10 dying cities by Forbes.com.
Officials have touted positive news such as a new 300,000-square-foot downtown office building, additional parking in the Oregon District — the city’s entertainment strip — and a new technology business park.
and another:
Local leaders want input on revitalizing downtown
Dayton Daily News
By Tim Tresslar
Tuesday, January 27, 2009DAYTON — A group of business and government leaders who have been working on a turnaround plan for the downtown said they want to hear from the public in the coming weeks.
At a press conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, officials announced A Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, an initiative aimed at creating a development blueprint for the city.
The planning effort, which began last year, has included input from local business executives as well as elected officials, administrators and staff from the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Montgomery County and the city of Dayton.
The effort is divided among three committees focused on the plan for downtown, a value proposition for the urban core and funding sources for implementing the plan. The group defines value proposition as the things that make Dayton an attractive place to locate and its competitive advantages.
Dr. Mike Ervin, a local philanthropist and co-chair of the planning effort, said the principles laid out on Jan. 27 are meant to act as a starting point for the discussion over the downtown’s future.
The group hopes to have a draft plan completed by June, he said.
“The future belongs to those regions taking urban revitalization seriously,” Ervin said. “Those are the regions that are and will continue to attract high-value jobs, young professionals and those businesses and institutions that want to employ them.”
Also chairing the planning effort are Michael Greitzer, co-chair of the Downtown Dayton Partnership Greitzer and Dayton City Manager Rashad Young.
During the press conference, the group issued what it calls guiding principles for planning. The list includes such issues as housing, sustainable development, training for green jobs and evaluating and recommending whether the city should have street cars.
Ervin said the area under review will include not only the central business district, but also other neighborhoods and landmarks such as Miami Valley Hospital, the University of Dayton and the Dayton Art Institute.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Dayton Ohio, Dayton neighborhoods, Downtown Dayton, Five Rivers Metroparks, Future of Dayton, Oregon District, Outdoor Recreation, University of Dayton, green building, riverfront development, urban redevelopment , Greater Downtown Dayton
October 10, 2008 • 1:36 am 0
Filed under: Dayton Ohio, Five Rivers Metroparks , Dayton Ohio, Englewood Dam, low dam removal, low dams
August 19, 2008 • 2:38 pm 1
caption: This image was captured at Cox Arboretum Metropark, in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
photo credit: deadmotion
Filed under: Dayton Ohio, Five Rivers Metroparks , Cox Arboretum, Dayton Ohio, Five Rivers Metroparks, Photos of Dayton Ohio
June 22, 2008 • 6:32 pm 2
Here are two links explaining the impressive renewal of Hills and Dales Metropark:
http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/HillDales/RestorationProject.aspx
http://www.metroparks.org/GetOutside/RebirthHillsDalesPark.aspx
Check it out!
Filed under: Dayton Ohio, Five Rivers Metroparks, Outdoor Recreation , Dayton, Dayton Ohio, Five Rivers Metroparks, Hills and Dales, parks
John Henry Patterson
Inspire us!
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