Medina County Parks reopen three areas following March coronavirus closures

Brunswick Lake Park

Medina County Park District officials announced the reopening of three areas April 10, following COVID-19-related closures last month. Five areas, including Brunswick Lake Park (pictured) also remain open, but seven other areas remain closed until further notice. (Brian Lisik, special to cleveland.com)

MEDINA, Ohio -- The Medina County Park District has announced the reopening of three park areas that had previously been part of a number of closures throughout the district due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Park officials announced the reopening of the Allardale, Letha House Park East and Schleman Nature Preserve areas, effective April 10.

“We were down some staff and we now have a couple people back,” Medina County Parks Director Nate Eppink said of the primary reason for the reopening. “There are 36 park district employees, but when you are talking rangers and operations staff, it is around 20.”

Of those 20 staff members, Eppink said, two were off on medical leave and four others had either exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 or had self-quarantined for two weeks because a family member had symptoms.

Eppink said the areas being reopened are by and large low-maintenance areas and able to be maintained effectively with the returning staff.

“We decided that these were areas we could open back up for people to enjoy,” Eppink said. “But we are still down a couple employees.”

He added that a fourth location, River Styx Park, was originally on the reopen list, and is expected to be reopened soon.

“But it took a beating in this week’s storms,” Eppink said. An F1 tornado and heavy winds and rain wreaked havoc on parts of the county early Wednesday morning (April 8).

Precautions remain in place

Other park areas remaining open are Brunswick Lake Park, Buckeye Woods Park (Ohio 162 and Deerview Lane entrances only), Hubbard Valley Park, Lake Medina, Letha House Park West and the Lester Rail Trail, Chippewa Inlet Trail, Chippewa Rail Trail and Montville Trail multipurpose trails.

Remaining closed until further notice are Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park (including the dog park), Green Leaf Park, Plum Creek Park, Chippewa Lake (including Krabill Shelter and the public boat ramp), Killbuck Lakes, Medina Marsh and Princess Ledges.

The district has also extended the cancellation of all programs and reservations to May 16.

Wolf Creek Environmental Center, Alderfer-Oenslager Wildlife Sanctuary, Susan Hambley Nature Center and park district headquarters also are closed until further notice, Eppink said.

“Our goal is to protect both visitors and staff,” Eppink said, adding that staff interaction is still being greatly limited and social distancing recommendations from the Medina County Health Department and Ohio Department of Health continue to be encouraged.

These include frequent hand washing, keeping a 6-foot distance between others, covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and not using playground equipment.

Continued updates can be found at www.MedinaCountyParks.com.

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