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Fall colors to reach peak in Valley this weekend
Photo
Greg Cappitte, right, and his father, Norm Cappitte, spend Friday afternoon fishing at Lake Glacier in Mill Creek MetroParks. The leaves will reach peak color this weekend, according to The Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
By Elise Franco
Youngstown
Michelina Moretti, an avid leaf peeper, spent much of Friday driving through Mill Creek MetroParks photographing the colorful fall landscapes.
Moretti is one of many people taking advantage of the peak color season. She said she loves autumn and tries to get to the park at least once a week until the leaves fall.
“I just came back from the Smoky Mountains, and I wanted to show my daughter the beautiful areas we have around here,” she said. “It’s probably one of the last weekends we’ll have with all the fall colors.”
Moretti said she planned to spend the day in different areas of the park, taking photographs and enjoying the scenery.
“It’s a beautiful, spectacular show,” she said. “I love to see the beauty of the colors and take in the smell of the season.”
This weekend is when leaf colors will peak, Casey Burdick of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said in a news release.
This makes it as good a time as any for folks to take a walk through the MetroParks, their local park or even their neighborhood and check out the vibrant foliage.
“An array of colors from deep reds to neon-lime greens will provide the perfect backdrop this weekend for hikers ready to reconnect with the natural world,” she said.
Jason Fallon of ODNR said peak usually lasts about a week before the leaves begin to fall at a faster pace, but it’s dependent on weather.
“Wind and rain will knock them down faster,” he said. “I predict that you’ll have some great pockets of color in the northern part of the state over the weekend.”
Those looking for an autumn-themed event for the weekend can visit Fellows Riverside Gardens on Saturday to help carve pumpkins for Sunday’s Pumpkin Walk at Twilight. Then they can return Sunday between 5:30 and 8 p.m. to walk the grounds, which will be lit by the light of more than 800 jack-o’-lanterns.
Those simply looking for a scenic place to take a walk can visit Lake Glacier or Wick Park in Youngstown, Boardman Park or Poland Municipal Forest.
Ruth McCune of Canfield spent Friday afternoon visiting Fellows Riverside Gardens with her three grandchildren — Stephanie McCune, 6; Ray McCune, 4; and Peyton McCune, 11 weeks — and family friend Audra Smith of Youngstown.
The group walked along the paths of the gardens looking at the fall foliage and the hundreds of carved pumpkins that lined the paths.
Smith said fall is her favorite season — and for good reason.
“I love the temperature and the colors of fall,” she said. “I even enjoy raking leaves, and then of course jumping in them.”