August 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 14

AG ENCY SP OT L IG H T

Cleveland Metroparks
Facilities: Cleveland Metroparks consists of almost 22,000 acres of land. Over
100 miles of parkways provide easy access to Cleveland Metroparks facilities
and areas. Facility highlights include
over 80 picnic areas and playing fields;
eight golf courses; wildlife management
areas; two stables; marina; refrigerated
toboggan chute; sledding, skating and
cross-country skiing areas; six nature
and visitor centers; and three mobile
outreach vehicles that bring the zoo and
parks to the classroom.

greg yost/Cleveland Metroparks

Programs
■■ ■Cleveland Metroparks Outdoor Education
offers hundreds of mostly free programs
a month for all ages and interests, inside
and outside the classroom. Specialty
programs include ecotours that connect
people with nature; youth outdoor adventures; mobile, interactive nature exhibits for urban elementary students; and a
graphics-rich 50-inch touch LCD (funded by the PNC Foundation) that brings
environmental education to Cleveland
preschoolers.
■■ ■Cleveland Metroparks Zoo accommodates school field trips year-round at no
cost to local schools. Free daytime school

programs for first through third graders
make learning fun and reinforce scientific
concepts that are a part of local schools'
curriculum. Dr. Z's Traveling Animal
Show visits area schools from November
through March, giving them an up-close
look at some of the zoo's animals. Children
can spend the night at the zoo during one
of three different overnight programs.
■■ ■Cleveland Metroparks Golf provides a
variety of programs to all ages and skill
levels, including a popular Junior Golf
Camp , Little Birdies ( ages 3-5) ,Women's
Clinics, Junior Clinics, and a One -Day
Golf School. Also supports a First Tee
and Clubs for Kids programs.
mission/Vision Statement: Cleveland Metroparks will conserve significant natural resources and enhance
people's lives by providing safe, highquality outdoor education, recreation,
and zoological opportunities.

Awards & Citations
■■ ■NRPA Gold Medal Award. Three-time
award winner: 1994, 2001, and 2007.
■■ ■Washington Golf Course. Certified Gold
Signature Sanctuary, having earned the
following firsts: first 9-hole golf course
in the world, first publicly owned facility,
and first " First Tee " course.
■■ ■Blue Wave Certification. First in Ohio,
and first on Lake Erie to meet the rigorous standards required at Blue Wave
beaches. The Blue Wave program is the
first national environmental certification for beaches and is implemented by
the Clean Beaches Coalition. The Blue
Wave certification process is designed
to help maintain robust, healthy, and vibrant beaches.
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■
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The park district has received thousands
Youth Outdoors participants learn
of honors in its history for excellence in
outdoor skills year round and test those
skills in events like this cross country ski
programs, marketing, facilities, publitrip at Squires Castle in North Chagrin
cations, and exhibits including Emmys,
Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks.
Kudos, Apex, and other national awards.

Parks & Recreation

AUGUST 2011

www.NRPA .ORG

municipality: Cleveland
metroparks is a separate
political subdivision in the
state of Ohio and is not part
of any local or other
political subdivision. The
park district is governed
by Cleveland metroparks
Board of Park
Commissioners.
Population: 1,293,628
(in the tax district served
by the agency)
Year founded: 1917
Annual Budget: $97,392,170
Agency Head:
Brian Zimmerman,
Executive Director

August 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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