Riverside picnic party planned

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning River Consortium Board is sponsoring a 31-mile riverside picnic party from sunup to sundown Saturday along the Mahoning River.

The event takes place on the second annual National Get Outdoors Day. Families, groups and individuals are encouraged to picnic along the river and enjoy its beauty, consortium spokesmen said. Canoers, kayakers and motor-boaters are invited to cruise the river that day, and hikers and runners to utilize the shoreline from Newton Township down river to Lowellville.

The consortium has identified several locations available for public access to the river, but participation is not limited to those sites. However, participants must have permission from the landowners of private property.

Public sites with parking include:

Foster Park at 3940 Damascus-Newton Falls Road, Newton Township*

Rotary Park at Ticknor Avenue and First Street, Newton Falls

Newton Falls Covered Bridge at Arlington Boulevard and Jay Street, Newton Falls

Canoe City at 74 N. Levitt Road, Leavittsburg*

Packard Park, Mahoning Avenue, Warren*

Perkins Park, Mahoning Avenue, Warren*

Gould-Stewart Park at Main Street Southwest and Spring Street, Warren

Niles Water Site at North Main Street and First Street, Niles

Girard Dam/Viaduct at Liberty Street, Girard

B&O Station at 530 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown*

Walton Ave. Bridge at Poland Avenue and Walton Avenue, Campbell/Struthers

Yellow Creek Park, state Route 616 (Bridge Street) and Lowellville Road, Struthers*

Lowellville Village Park* and Bridge, Water Street and River Road, Lowellville

*Restroom facilities available at site.

Litter bags will be available at several sites for removal of picnic debris. Consortium members will be present at some locations to provide information about the river and its importance to the Mahoning Valley.