YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Parks and recreation professionals, community partners and elected officials are invited to attend the second Mahoning Valley Parks and Green Spaces Summit.
The summit, which is being organized by the Healthy Community Partnership-Mahoning Valley’s Parks and Green Spaces Action Team, will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 13 at Kenneth F. McMahon Hall at the MetroParks Farm, state Route 46, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield.
The summit is free, and lunch will be provided. Register online HERE, email rperry@hcpmahoningvalley.com or call 330 743 5555. The registration deadline is Feb. 6.
The summit will focus on strengthening relationships between parks and recreation professionals, community partners and elected officials, as well as presenting information about resources to support parks and recreation capital and capacity needs. The event will also provide the opportunity to recognize and celebrate local parks throughout the Valley.
The summit will begin with a keynote about “Creating Two Elite Urban Forestry Programs: Bowling Green and Hamilton,” presented by Dave Bienemann, municipal arborist/utility forester for the city of Hamilton. Bieneman is an experienced arborist with a history of working with municipalities on restoring their local tree canopies.
The event will also include breakout sessions on best practices for public outreach, starting and maintaining local tree commissions and a panel of successful local neighborhood parks projects. The last session of the day will feature a resource roundtable with representatives from Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Reimagine Appalachia and theYoungstown Foundation.
Anyone who has a professional connection to park or green spaces management and outdoor recreational activities is invited and encouraged to attend. Community partners and elected officials who share a commitment to investing in parks, green spaces and outdoor recreation opportunities are also encouraged to participate.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated due to a change in location for the event.