Turtles, bluegill, geese & more make many fond of Lily Pond

July 6, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Even though he lives five hours away, 11-year-old Ethan Gates doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to taking advantage of opportunities to visit Mill Creek MetroParks.

“When I’m up here [in the Mahoning Valley], a lot of times I do come, and I like jumping on rocks and catching bugs. I also like the bluegills,” explained Ethan, of Burke, Va., who spent the Fourth of July weekend with his family visiting relatives in the area.

Ethan spent time Sunday doing his best to interact with a school of bluegill at the park’s Lily Pond. He was among those who took part in a two-hour program that delved into the wildlife at and proposed improvements to the 3.25-acre pond.

Conducting the program was Hillary Lenton, a naturalist with the Ford Nature Center.

Ethan said he enjoys the outdoors and added that he hopes to be an entomologist.

Also gathering with him along the shore of the murky pond was younger brother, Ryan, 8; his parents, Dan and Nicole Gates; his aunt, Lisa Hamilton of Austintown; and Hamilton’s children, Asher, 2, and Bella, 3.

“It’s a nice place to come, where a bunch of ages can be satisfied,” said Nicole, who, along with her husband, served in the Army.

As she walked along the Lily Pond carrying the smooth shell of a snapping turtle, Lenton noted that the water attracts a mix of wildlife such as blue gill, snapping and painted turtles, dragonflies, red-eared sliders, butterflies, Canada geese, damselflies and the occasional blue heron that makes it a top draw.

“People are always asking about the different turtles and fish,” she observed. “It’s one of the most-visited areas of the park. People can view a lot of wildlife in not a lot of space.”

Several visitors reacted with surprise as a pair of snapping turtles slowly swam to within a few feet of the shore. In addition, they watched as schools of blue gill gathered while they were nesting and laying eggs.

Lenton also discussed several proposed improvements to the pond, such as planting more vegetation along its outer perimeter to act as an added habitat, adding netting to slow or prevent erosion, building a boardwalk across part of the pond and installing a viewing platform. She was unable, however, to say when the work might get underway.

Even though the pond has been a popular area since the 1890s, many other local residents rarely or never venture into the park. As a result, they are unaware of its countless treasures, said Lenton, who called Mill Creek MetroParks “a gem in the city.”

“We’re trying to get people to come out and enjoy everything Mill Creek Park has to offer,” she added.