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Mill Creek to kick off spring programming with Farm Animal Baby Shower this weekend
YOUNGSTOWN
Mill Creek Metro- Parks will kick off spring this weekend with a beloved community tradition: the annual Farm Animal Baby Shower at the MetroParks Farm.
The event Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is expected to draw a crowd of about 6,000 people, is “just a day to come and hang out at the farm,” said Leslie Cusano, MetroParks marketing manager.
Visitors will get the chance to spend some time with a variety of baby animals, including chicks, ducklings, goats, lambs, calves and piglets. Each type of animal will be in each barn.
Last year a baby kangaroo was there; this year there will be another type of exotic animal, but “it’s kind of a surprise,” Cusano said.
Many of the animals that will be at the baby shower live on the farm year-round.
“After the baby shower, some will stay at the farm because we do use some of the baby animals for some of our programming,” she said.
The animal baby shower is the beginning of the MetroParks’ busy season, Cusano said.
The animal baby shower is free. Parking is available at the farm and at Gate 8 at the Canfield Fairgrounds. The MetroParks will offer coloring pages for kids for a small donation to defray the cost of taking care of the animals.
After Sunday, the farm at 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road will be open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can come and visit the barnyard to see the animals, free of charge.
The start of spring also means the opening of Lanterman’s Mill, which now is open on weekends from 12 to 4 p.m. Starting in May, it will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The north course at Mill Creek Golf course is open for the season as well, with plans for the south course to open soon.
To see a full calendar of events, visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org.
You don’t have to participate in an activity, however, to enjoy the park system.
“When it gets above 40 degrees, people just come out,” Cusano said. “We notice a huge increase in people biking, walking, running — just people using the park.”
Many people enjoy observing seasonal changes at the MetroParks.
“Things are starting to bloom. One thing people don’t know — we have a section on our website where you can look up what’s in bloom,” Cusano said. One area in bloom that residents can check out is Daffodil Meadow, near Lake Newport.
“It blooms every near in late April or early May, and it’s really gorgeous,” Cusano said.