MEDINA, Ohio -- For those Medina County residents who are sheltering in place but looking for an outlet to relieve boredom and bolster health, some of the county parks are still open, offering safe and enjoyable trails for exercise and stimulation.
Buckeye Woods Park, 6335 Wedgewood Road, Medina, has cordoned off its playgrounds, but has walking trails and large fields for playing catch, tossing a Frisbee, solo soccer practice -- you pick your pleasure.
The park also has access to the Chippewa Inlet Trail. That trail is paved, level, wheelchair and stroller accessible, at least 6 feet across, and 2 miles long (4 miles round-trip.) The trail is wide enough to avoid contact with other walkers and bikers.
It provides a close-up view of the inlet that drains farmland and serves as home to several bird species. On a recent day, walkers were treated to views of cardinals, mallard ducks, red-winged blackbirds and enormous Sandhill cranes flying low over the adjacent wetlands.
Hubbard Valley Park, 8600 Hubbard Valley Road, Seville, is open and offers wooded trails currently home to multiple wildflower varieties. The trail winds around a lake and overlooks Buffalo Creek Retreat. The wooded portion is not stroller accessible, but a shorter paved trail circles a meadow and ends in close proximity to the lake.
The trail around Lake Medina, 3749 Medina Road, Medina, is very popular right now, but is wide enough that you can avoid unwanted contact with others. The upper portion of the path is gravel and is close to the lake, offering views of ducks and geese and many fishermen. It’s usually several degrees colder than the lower paved trail, which is sheltered from the wind off the lake.
The Lester Rail Trail, 3654 Lester Road, Medina, has several access points, with parking availability along its 3.2 miles from Abbeyville Road to Lester Road; an easily accessible spot is at the rear of the Medina County Career Center at the northeast corner of the parking lot. A sign and paved path lead to the wide gravel trail, which is mostly level and travels through farmland and some woods. It is usually very sparsely used and offers views of wildflowers and swampy areas.
The 10-foot-wide paved Chippewa Rail Trail begins at Chippewa Road just east of Lake Road and travels for 2.75 miles, ascending gently to Wedgewood Road. It travels through woodlands and borders Medina Country Club. It’s considered a perfect path for walking, biking and skateboarding.
To learn more about opportunities to exercise in Medina County parks, log on to medinacountyparks.com for trail descriptions and directions.
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