Photographer and Friend of Miller Ecological Park, Jim Ludwick

The Season is Bright at Miller Ecological Park

Located within walking distance of three Lebanon City Schools and along the City's bike path, the opportunities and benefits of developing The Will and Harriet Miller Park as an ecological park for passive recreational activities have inspired City administrators and planners, area school personnel, local businesses, service organizations, neighbors, and the Miller Family descendants to join together to make the idea become a reality.   To see picture titles, place your cursor on the picture. To view a map of the park: Click Here and Click Open

 

 

2018 NATURE SERIES AT MILLER ECOLOGICAL PARK (See article below)

THANKS TO OUR 2017 OKTOBERFEST SPONSORS! PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT MILLER ECOLOGICAL PARK:

Click here for a list of this year's sponsors.

No matter the weather...we love being outdoors with nature and nature-lovers!

2018 MEP WINTER SERIES

Both the summer and Fall Nature Series at MEP were very well received.  We are excited to announce that  the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists will be continuing the series of nature programs at Miller Ecological Park throughout the winter. Dave Woehr will again be coordinating these events.

The programs are all free and open to the public. Registration is not required to attend.  All programs will be held at 10-noon beginning in January.  Participants in the MEP Nature Programs will meet in the parking lot on Miller Road.

2018 WINTER NATURE SERIES AT MEP

January 13: The Joy of Discovery (Bob Henn)

February 10: Wetland Secrets (Janet Lasley)

March 10: Signs of Spring (Bill Lindauer)

April 21: Backyard Wildlife (Donna Shaw and Peggy Logue)

Next MEP Steering Committee Meeting: Thursday, February 22, 2018,  7:00PM at the Lebanon City Building on Broadway.

February Nature Workshop at MEP

We are pleased to introduce Janet Lasley as a member of our OCVN Workshop Leadership Team.  A former Art Educator, she is an active member of the local OCVN group and does much of her volunteer work at Caesar's Creek.  In fact, today, January 26, she mentioned to me, "I'm headed to take out some honeysuckle at Caesar Creek Nature Center."  

Her presentation on February 10, "Go with the Flow," focuses on the wetlands at MEP. She will give us a new view of the role wetlands play in our ecosystem and will teach us how to protect our water quality and the precious ecosystem found in our neighborhoods.

For an excellent diagram to help understand the idea of Watersheds,  Click Here

Janet Lasley has provided an outline summary of the Watershed Aspects of Miller Ecological Park, which serves as partial Headwaters for Turtle Creek which flows into the Little Miami River Basin meeting up in South Lebanon, Ohio.  The larger Little Miami River Basin covers 16,683 square miles as it flows south and east to the Ohio River.   Click Here

 

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Entry way feature was completed this year. Major donors names are listed on plaques.

 2017: ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!

 The entryway feature was added to MEP.  Note, the quote over the walkway welcomes all, and the entry base gives recognition to major park donors. 

  1. Lebanon City applied for two grants in 2017. 1) An NRAC grant for $25,000 was approved.  It has provided removal of invasive species, converted the “old field” section of the park to Pollinator Habitat, allowed reforestation of the Early Successional Forest, provided enhanced educational opportunities in the park, and improved trail drainage. 2) A Nature Works Grant for expansion of the current parking lot was partially approved for $7,000
  2. Trees were planted throughout the park
    1. Memorial trees for Jim Larson, Bill Stalter and Susan Stalter Roget
    2. General tree plantings by the city
    3. 2 Cherry trees for the Japanese Garden (Moore family)
    4. Kleinger’s Contest Tree
  3. MEPs Facebook and Website postings continue to be popular. Facebook “boosting” was initiated to better promote events.
  4. Emiko and Mel Moore have moved ahead with plans for a Japanese Garden honoring our friendship with the Matsunami Park in Ishinomaki, Japan. Click for the rest of the story
Cherry Tree Planting. Celebrating Friendship with Ishinomaki

Consider a Pledged Gift to MEP

In order to maintain and improve Miller Ecological Park, the Miller Ecological Park Trustees are planning several fund raising programs in addition to our annual Oktoberfest.  Currently we are in need if upgrading the restrooms and expanding the parking lot.  One of the fund raising programs the Trustees have developed is recognition of major donors on the entry way feature. For those who choose to make contributions of $1,000 or more, their names will be added to entry way feature. 

This donation made be made through Warren County Foundation. Donors might consider a Pledged Donation and make payments in regular installments.    To see the agreement form for Pledge Donations  (click) 

We are also working on other ways to recognize donors, and we are looking at a stone or brick program.  If you have ideas or suggestions, please contact nmyerholtz@aol.com.

 

We do need more parking space at MEP

2017: The City of Lebanon Received 2 Grants for MEP

This fall, the City of Lebanon received word that Miller Ecological Park had received a $7,000 Nature Works Grant to improve the parking areas at Miller Ecological Park.  While, the cost of the project will be in the neighborhood of $50,000, we do not have to use the funds immediately and need to work on funding for the remainder of the project.  

During the summer, the City of Lebanon was awarded a Clean Ohio Fund Greenspace Grant for $25,000. The purpose of the grant, which was recommended by the Lebanon Park Board and the Shade Tree Commission, is to improve the back 51 preserve acres of Miller Ecological Park as outlined in the recently completed Ecological Assessment and Mangement Plan for Miller Ecological Park.  Plantings and trail improvements have already begun.