The Metroparks Climate Action Plan: 2024 in Review

December 18, 2024

By: Jill Martin, Community Outreach Interpretive Services Supervisor

In January 2024, the Metroparks shared news of our organization’s first formal Climate Action Plan, (CAP). This plan has five goals developed to address, and react to, the impacts of climate change in our region. A subcommittee of Metroparks employees covering a wide cross-section of all departments and work classifications has been formed for each of the goals, and members of these subcommittees have been diligently working to move action items forward for each goal.

We would like to share some updates with our readers after our first full year of our Climate Action Plan. Here’s a breakdown of some of the work we’ve accomplished this year:

Education and Engagement

By surveying employees, staff training needs around environmental and climate related topics were identified, along with sources of this training. Environmental Lunch and Learn sessions for employees began. Just to name a few, guest speaker Kyle Whyte presented on Environmental Justice, and an online film sneak preview (Chasing Time) was made available for staff and visitors. Climate Action topics were incorporated into public blog postings, social media and Metroparks newsletters to help staff and park users better understand how our parks are experiencing climate impacts now and planning for change in the future. You’ll also see some new outdoor Chronolog installations at select parks where you can use your camera and add to an online photo database that will show how certain landscapes change in our parks over time. This is a way for you to actively participate in research with us.

Chronolog stations, such as this one at Stony Creek Metropark, encourage public participation in community science focused on the changes to our local landscapes. Users can take a photo by placing their cell phone in the bracket on top of the sign post and uploading it (following the directions on the sign)- this allows the same image to be taken by a variety of people through seasons, landscape changes, and more – over an extended period of time.

Preservation and Conservation of Natural Resources

The Metroparks has always had a strong focus of preserving and conserving natural areas, but efforts continued to protect and restore natural areas. At Lake Erie Metropark rain gardens and bioswales to manage stormwater were installed as part of an EPA GLRI Grant. At Stony Creek Metropark 80 feet of naturalized shoreline was installed to protect the water and combat erosion. A plan for modifying staff activities according to the Air Quality was piloted this year. Surveying and responding to invasive species in the parks, such as stilt grass and spotted lanternfly also occurred. Many of these efforts supported action items in ALL of the Climate Action Plan goals.

In June, naturalized shoreline was planted to reduce erosion and create both aquatic and terrestrial habitat. Many of the climate action plan projects meet more than one goal within the plan!

Water Quality

Projects such as the Lake Erie Metropark rain garden/bioswale installation and Stony Creek naturalized shoreline are helping capture and treat stormwater. You may also see new information shared on our blogs about water quality testing and other measures being taken to keep our lakes and beaches clean. We’ve been working with consultants to identify where we could expand stormwater capture and filtration with our natural areas. Our team has been participating in professional groups and talking to partners about ways we can work together to amplify everyone’s efforts on water quality issues.

Transportation

The Metroparks purchased their first electric vehicles. Two electric vehicles were purchased for the Interpretive Department Outreach program as part of an EV pilot project, and two EV charging stations were installed to support them. Data on how these work and the challenges staff experience will be collected over the following year to support a future plan for electric vehicles. Three golf courses also moved to using electric golf cart fleets. A consulting company was hired to determine the Metroparks carbon baseline. A Trail GAP study took place and will be used as a guide to develop better non-motorized trail connections between parks in the future. The committee also examined bike rental and possibilities for expansion of bike rental in the Metroparks as a way to support more non-motorized use of parks.

Waste Management, Recycling, and Composting

The climate action plan calls for internal (staff) and external (park visitors) actions such as making it easier to reduce, recycle, and make sure trash ends up in appropriate receptacles.

A new recycling and “Keep It Clean” initiative was developed as well as selecting a new waste and recycling vendor that allows staff AND visitors to use mixed source recycling in the parks. Look for new signage on recycling and waste receptacles near picnic areas. An EGLE grant to fund a composting project was awarded, and the committee has been working on developing better “recipes” for composting park waste.

Looking Ahead

Many of the actions that took place this year lay the framework for larger projects to come. One of the great benefits of this work is the opportunity it provides for collaboration among staff and other outside partners. Stay tuned in 2025 for new developments and projects that support our five climate action goals. If you’d like to see the 2024 Climate Action Plan Annual Report it can be found at metroparks.com on our Climate Action Plan page.

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