Lake Metroparks 50th Anniversary

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	Lake County Metropolitan Park District established.
	Helen Hazen Wyman Park becomes the first park. Board of Park Commissioners first appointed.
	Hogback Ridge Park and Hell Hollow Wilderness Area are purchased.
	Riverview Park and Indian Point Park are acquired.
	The first park levy is passed. The first Lake Metroparks executive director, Donald Wells, is hired.
	Girdled Road Reservation is purchased.
	All park operations move to 1385 Jackson Street, Painesville.
	Parsons Gardens and Lakeshore Reservation are acquired.
	Bill Brahler is appointed as the first chief ranger.
	Paine Falls Park is acquired.
	Mason’s Landing Park is purchased.
	A 99-year lease is signed with the State of Ohio for management of Chapin Forest Reservation
	First accessible, paved “All People’s Trail” is dedicated at Lakeshore Reservation.
	Erie Shores Golf Course is purchased.
	Park headquarters moves to Penitentiary Glen Reservation. First Park Naturalist Don Strock retires.
	Lake Metroparks opens the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
	Name is changed from Lake County Metropolitan Park District to Lake Metroparks.
	Farmpark is purchased.
	Lake Metroparks headquarters moves to Concord Woods Nature Park. The Children’s Schoolhouse Nature Park is gifted to the park district.
	Lake Metroparks wins first of several awards for excellent accounting and financial reporting. Lease agreements are signed for Veterans Park and Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park.
	Farmpark named best new park in the country by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
	David A. Noble becomes Executive Director.
	Pine Ridge Country Club and Chagrin River Park are purchased.
	Service is provided to a record 1.3 million visitors throughout Lake Metroparks.
	Lake Metroparks awarded top marketing communication award by NRPA.
	Ranger Chief Doug McLean is the first employee to retire after 30 years of service.
	Lake Metroparks selected as one of the top four park systems of its size in the nation by NRPA.
	Lake Metroparks surpasses 6,000 acres of land preserved in Lake County.
	The Greenway Corridor is dedicated and creates 4.4 miles of paved trail.
	The Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center is rededicated after capital campaign funded improvements.
	State historic markers are installed at Lakefront Lodge and Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park.
	President George W. Bush visits Farmpark during a campaign visit to Northeast Ohio.
	Voters pass a 1.9 mills renewal levy supporting Lake Metroparks.
	Many parks are affected as Lake County experiences one of the biggest floods in its recorded history on July 27-28.
	Chagrin River Park becomes the third park, along with Girdled Road Reservation and Hell Hollow Wilderness Area, to be recognized as an Important Bird Area by Audubon Ohio.
	Happy 50th Anniversary Lake Metroparks!