Medina County Park District

08/31/2026

Thanks Medina Weekly for sharing our September programs!

Native Plant Festival, Lake to Lake Bike Tour and stargazing headline a busy month of free outdoor activities

08/31/2026

Exciting improvements are coming to Lake Medina! Construction of a new paddlecraft launch and fishing pier will begin today! The pier will extend from the shoreline into the lake and feature two paddlecraft launches, including an ADA-accessible launch. It will also provide designated areas where visitors can comfortably sit or stand while fishing.

In addition, the lower trail will be repaved during September. To help crews complete these improvements safely and efficiently, there will be two phases of closures. We appreciate your patience and cooperation while this work is underway.

TODAY --- Monday, August 31–Sunday, September 13
Granger Road Entrance and Picnic Shelter/Steps Closed
The Granger Road entrance and parking lot will be closed, along with the picnic shelter and steps near that entrance. Heavy construction equipment will be operating in these areas as crews work on installing a paddlecraft launch.
During this phase, please access Lake Medina from the Route 18 entrance or through Shotwell Gardens. The upper and lower trails will remain open but will be closed near the picnic shelter/steps by the Granger Road entrance.

Monday, September 14–Friday, September 25
Lake Medina Closed
Lake Medina will be closed from September 14–25 while crews repave the lower trail and complete riprap installation around the dam. During this phase, Shotwell Gardens will remain open; however, access to Lake Medina will be closed at the bridge near the pump house and mural.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make these improvements to Lake Medina. We look forward to providing visitors with new opportunities to enjoy the lake!

08/30/2026

There may not be any programs during the week, but we are gearing up for a BIG WEEKEND!

Saturday, September 5
A Healthy Dose of Nature: Hiking Series
Plum Creek Park South
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Hiking outdoors has plenty of perks, AND it's good for you mentally and physically, too! Join a naturalist and volunteers for a three to five mile vigorous hike along a different trail each month. This is a continuous hike. Please dress for the weather, wear appropriate footwear, and bring along a bottle of water. Ages ten to adult. No registration is required. Free.

Saturday, September 5
Native Plant Festival and Sale
Oenslager Nature Center
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Join us, once again, for our fourth annual Native Plant Festival and Sale to explore the connection between native plants, people, and wildlife! Shop at our native plant sale, help us with monarch tagging, play some games, make fun crafts, and visit with and learn from our important native plant partners. The event will also serve as the pick up location for the Medina County Soil and Water District’s Invasive Species Buy back program (must have signed up previously through the soil and water district). Plant sale proceeds benefit Friends of Medina County Parks, Inc. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free admission. For a list of available plants, shrubs, and trees (priced $5-15, cash or check only) visit our website: https://medinacountyparks.com/native-plant-festival-and-sale-9-5-26/

Sunday, September 6
Discovery Drop in: Monarchs and their Allies
Oenslager Nature Center
1 to 4 p.m.
Discoveries don’t happen on a set schedule, so drop by anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. This series promotes unstructured exploratory activities, which are perfect for any age to stay for as short or as long as their interest holds. You can participate in the process of tagging the butterflies as part of Monarch Watch’s research efforts to collect data on the migration of monarch butterflies -- if you can catch one! Staff will provide instructions, nets, and information on their magnificent migration to Mexico, as well as general butterfly facts. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.

08/29/2026

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!

Join us for the fourth annual Native Plant Festival and Sale on Saturday, September 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Oenslager Nature Center to explore the connection between native plants, people, and wildlife! Shop at our native plant sale, help us with monarch tagging, play some games, make fun crafts, and visit with and learn from our important native plant partners. The event will also serve as the pick‑up location for the Medina County Soil and Water District’s Invasive Species Buy‑back program (must have signed up previously through the soil and water district). Plant sale proceeds benefit Friends of Medina County Parks, Inc. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free admission.

Cash or check only
Costs range from $5 to $15
Questions about inventory can be emailed to [email protected].

Forbs and Grasses
Allegheny monkeyflower
Aromatic aster
Big leaf aster
Blue lobelia
Brown-eyed Susan (R. triloba)
Butterfly w**d
Calico aster
Calico beardtongue
Cardinal flower
Common ironw**d
Common milkw**d
Dense blazing star
Foxglove beardtongue
Hairy wood mint
Hoary mountain mint
Hollow Joe-pye w**d
Indian to***co
Jacob’s ladder
Lance-leaved coreopsis
Late figwort
Little bluestem
Lyre-leaved sage
Mistflower
Pearly everlasting
Prairie dropseed
Purple coneflower
Purple giant hyssop
P***y toes
Riddell’s goldenrod
Royal catchfly
Showy goldenrod
Smooth blue aster
Sneezew**d
Spotted Joe-pye w**d
Stiff goldenrod
Swamp milkw**d
Tall coreopsis
Tall thimblew**d
Virginia mountain mint
White snakeroot
Wild bergamot
Wrinkle-leaved goldenrod
Zig-zag goldenrod
And a few miscellaneous species!

Shrubs & Trees (quantities of some are limited):
Black willow
Bladdernut
Buttonbush
Bur oak
Kentucky coffee tree
New Jersey tea
Paw paw
Pin oak
Redbud
Scarlet oak
Shrubby St. John’s wort
Swamp white oak
Sycamore
Red oak
White oak

08/28/2026

September is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors. Check out this month’s programs. Details are on our website at www.medinacountyparks.com.

Saturday, September 5 - A Healthy Dose of Nature: Hiking Series
Saturday, September 5 - Native Plant Festival and Sale
Sunday, September 6 - Discovery Drop in: Monarchs and their Allies
Tuesday, September 8 - Senior Strides
Wednesday, September 9 - Natural Discoveries
**Thursday, September 10 - Gentle Yoga
**Thursday, September 10 - Creative Writing for Homeschoolers
Friday, September 11 - Woolly Bear Walk
**Saturday, September 12 - Lake to Lake Bike Tour
Saturday, September 12 - Bird Brain Waxwings
Saturday, September 12 - Fuzzy Caterpillars
Sunday, September 13 - Fuzzy Caterpillars
Sunday, September 13 - Music at The Lodge: Ginger Ackley
**Tuesday, September 15 - Homeschoolers Outdoor Education: Fishing
Wednesday, September 16 - Migration Challenges
**Wednesday, September 16 - Honey Extraction Demo
Thursday, September 17 - A Healthy Dose of Nature: Hiking Series
Saturday, September 19 - Fuzzy Caterpillars
Sunday, September 20 - Fuzzy Caterpillars
Saturday, September 19 - Northeastern Ohio Live Steamers: ALL ABOARD!
Saturday, September 19 - Starry, Starry Nights at Letha House
Wednesday, September 23 - Ohio Butterfly Surveys
Thursday, September 24 - Tales for Tots
Thursday, September 24 - S’more Nature: Bats
**Friday, September 25 - Folk Stories from the Chippewa Tribes
Saturday, September 26 - Preserving Your Herbal Harvest
Sunday, September 27 - Natural Discoveries Hiking Series: Incredible Insects
Sunday, September 27 - Photographers of the Park Club Meeting

08/28/2026

Exciting improvements are coming to Lake Medina! Construction of a new paddlecraft launch and fishing pier will begin at the end of August. The pier will extend from the shoreline into the lake and feature two paddlecraft launches, including an ADA-accessible launch. It will also provide designated areas where visitors can comfortably sit or stand while fishing.

In addition, the lower trail will be repaved during September. To help crews complete these improvements safely and efficiently, there will be two phases of closures. We appreciate your patience and cooperation while this work is underway.

Monday, August 31–Sunday, September 13
Granger Road Entrance and Picnic Shelter/Steps Closed
The Granger Road entrance and parking lot will be closed, along with the picnic shelter and steps near that entrance. Heavy construction equipment will be operating in these areas as crews work on installing a paddlecraft launch.
During this phase, please access Lake Medina from the Route 18 entrance or through Shotwell Gardens. The upper and lower trails will remain open but will be closed near the picnic shelter/steps by the Granger Road entrance.

Monday, September 14–Friday, September 25
Lake Medina Closed
Lake Medina will be closed from September 14–25 while crews repave the lower trail and complete riprap installation around the dam. During this phase, Shotwell Gardens will remain open; however, access to Lake Medina will be closed at the bridge near the pump house and mural.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make these improvements to Lake Medina. We look forward to providing visitors with new opportunities to enjoy the lake!

City of Medina - City Hall

08/27/2026

The 27-mile cycling tour links eight Medina County trails, with registration due Sept. 1.

08/27/2026

We love seeing this group enjoying Shotwell Gardens at Lake Medina -- thanks for sharing your walk with us, Integrated Community Solutions!

08/27/2026

Tonight -- last slo roll bike ride!

08/27/2026

We hope to see you this weekend. Stop by our nature centers to learn about butterflies and dinosaurs!

Saturday, August 29
Ohio Butterfly Surveys:
What’s Being Done?
Oenslager Nature Center
6100 Ridge Road, Sharon Township/Wadsworth
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Long term surveys are important because they help to monitor plant or animal populations over many years. Butterfly surveys are important because they are an indicator species on the overall health of our environment. Join as we hike, catch, and learn about butterflies and the park district’s long term survey at Oenslager Nature Center that started in 2003. Ages ten to adult. No registration is required. Free.

Saturday, August 29
Sunday, August 30
Jurassic in the Park
Susan Hambley Nature Center
1473 Parschen Blvd., Brunswick
12 to 5 p.m.
Dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures have taken over the Susan Hambley Nature Center for the entire month of August! Stop in between noon and five on the weekends to learn more about what our area looked like when dinosaurs called it home. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. Free.