Guest blogger: Sustainability Manager Tim Pritchard Invasive species reduce biodiversity, degrade habitat, and limit the ability of native ecosystems to store carbon, making their removal and replacement an important and impactful conservation action for any who manages land, from backyard to commercial property. Replacing invasives with native species helps to create habitat and mitigate climate […]

Drop off lights at one of six locations and support the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation. Starting Dec. 1, Five Rivers MetroParks and Cohen Recycling are making the holidays greener by providing bins at seven MetroParks locations where residents can drop off holiday lights to be recycled. Recycling these lights supports MetroParks’ conservation mission, and Cohen […]

Fields of bright yellow goldenrod blooms are common this time of year and add not only a great deal of beauty to the early fall landscape, but they are an indispensable ecosystem plant for our region. The sunny blooms of the goldenrod (around 22 species statewide) can be found in forest, prairie, meadow, and urban […]

@fiveriversmetroparks Much, like the bald eagle, osprey have seen a population decline and local student Alex Weed wanted to help as part of his Eagle Scout project. He brainstormed with our conservation team to create an osprey landing that the amazing folks at Carey Electric put up on a 35-foot pole they donated. With their […]

Land once slated to become a landfill is one step further toward a long-term vision of becoming a new MetroPark. Five Rivers MetroParks and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) held a groundbreaking on Friday, Aug. 26, for the Spring Run Conservation Area Wetland Restoration Project in Trotwood. The project is fully funded by […]

Five Rivers MetroParks is hosting an intensive ecological survey of bat species in multiple MetroParks this August. This survey – also referred to as a bat blitz – is the first of its kind in Ohio and includes a number of researchers from organizations across Ohio and Indiana. The bat blitz will be held overnight, […]

Head to your backyard, local park or prairie for a Pollinator Scavenger Hunt. Pollinators include insects, such as bees, butterflies and flies. Pollinators also can be mammals, reptiles and birds. Important to the environment and the economy, pollinators ensure habitats are healthy and you have food on your plate. By moving pollen grains from one […]

In summer, Five Rivers MetroParks’ many prairies are bustling with pollinators and boast beautiful foliage and color. From tall grasses to waves of wildflowers, prairies are one of the most impressive habitats to visit. Even more impressive, perhaps, is the potential of just one seed for the restoration of an entire habitat. MetroParks’ seed nursery […]

The Christmas tree collection at Eastwood MetroPark has ended, and the evergreens are ready for their next life at the bottoms of various lakes. Sunk trees can create rich aquatic habitats that, among other things, provide places for fish to lay eggs that hatch into baitfish, which then become food for larger fish. These kinds of programs are […]

Healthy rivers mean healthy wildlife The cascading positive effects of reforestation have been well documented and can be seen in Dayton — as evidenced by the return of bald eagles. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, bald eagles were near extinction just 40 years ago due to the effects of the chemical DDT […]

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