BARD Owl at MEP (Austin Landon)Matt McKInney working on his Eagle Scout ProjectAustin and his sister...great photos of MEP birds.Casey has so much great information to share about nature...Sue Saari, MEP Secretary

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

 UPCOMING EVENTS

February 10: MEP Steering Committee Meeting. 7:00PM at Lebanon City Building.

February 15, 2020: Backyard Birding Adventure Walk/Watch at MEP.  Time 9-11.  Meet at Miller Road Parking Lot.  (With Austin Langdon)

Austin Langdon, a Lebanon birdwatcher attending Ohio State University, is adding so much to Miller Ecological Park. Click here to discover the species he has seen:  Click here:for ebird.com

2019 MEP HIGHLIGHTS

Each year new surprises make the development of the Will and Harriet Miller Ecological Park magical. 

See article below and Click Here for a detailed list of HIGHLIGHTS for 2019.

 

2019 List Of Oktoberfest Sponsors

Thank you to the 2019 Sponsors of Lebanon's Oktoberfest to benefit Miller Ecological Park:  Click Here for a list of the Sponsors.

 

NEW EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT

Matthew McKinney has completed his Eagle Scout Project at Miller Ecological Park. His project included the addition of four cedar benches (two at the natural playscape and two on the primitive trails.) He is a Senior at Lebanon High School. Thank you Matthew for a great project!! Miller Ecological Park has succeeded in a large part due to the many Eagle Scout Projects.

A Few 2020 Previews:

1) Each month there will continue to be a Saturday Nature Program. (Check the Miller Park Facebook page and website for the program titles and times)
2) Emiko Moore will be forming a committee to further create and expand the Japanese Friendship Garden.
3) We look forward to a metamorphosis of the Lebanon Garden Club Butterfly Release event.  
4) We will continue to look for funding sources to add a restroom, water source, and shelter at the Miller Road entrance.
5) The battle against invasive species and the on-going improvement and maintenance projects will continue to be a priority.
6) And much more!!  Check the website...join us for the Steering Committee Meetings....Contact Casey Burdick at the City Building to volunteer. (513-228-3104)

 

 

Posts and ropes are a few items that require occasional maintenance

IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE

Some of the unique Miller Ecological Park Features have been in place for a number of years and are enjoyed by many--especially the Playscape.  That does lead to the need for occasional restoration and maintenance.  In the  fall of 2019, Elk Run Construction (Jon Young) was hired by the City to replace old posts with cedar posts.  New ropes were added to features that are made with a new aggregate that will last better. 

MillerEcological Park Trustees are looking for ways to ensure that money is available to improve and maintain the park for the future. While Oktoberfest is an important source of funds, the group is looking for other ways to increase funding. Suggestions and ideas are always welcome!  Contact Casey Burdick: 513-228-3104

 

NEXT MEP STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING: 

Monday, February 10, 2020 at 7:00.  Lebanon City Building.

Austin Langdon and his sister add birding to the many activities at MEP

2019: HIGHLIGHTS

Each year new surprises make development of Miller Ecological Park magical.  This year,  Matthew McKinney's Eagle Scout project added 4 new benches; Austin Langdon, birder, joined the MEP team and led birdwatching events; Casey Burdick's leadership of park projects and her coordination of 12 monthly nature walks brought many people to attend and enjoy the park; the Moore family and their dream of creating a Friendship Garden with Ishinomaki, Japan has added a beautiful, unique piece; on May 4, a Dedication and Special Tree Memorial Planting was held; the Monarch Butterfly Release with the Lebanon Garden Club drew about 1,000 people to Miller Park; volunteers cleared gardens and spread mulch, planned and assisted with the 6th Oktoberfest...and so much more.  As Bob Henn said at a recent Steering Committee Meeting, " We consider Miller Park the Crown Jewel."

For a more complete list of 2019 Highlights, Click here.

 

Mayor Brewer cuts the ribbon at Miller Ecological Park Dedication 2013

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

2019 marked ten years since the Miller Ecological Park Fund Trustees (Warren County Foundation) and Steering Committee were organized to assist and support the City of Lebanon in developing Miller Ecological Park.  It has been an exciting and rewarding ten years which began with Marsha Ginther as Chairperson of the Steering Committee.  She held that position for five years. Fifteen Eagle Scout Projects have been coordinated by Tim Huitger throughout the ten years. A very special Community Dedication of the Park was held in 2013 under the leadership of Faith Nicolet. The planning of a Lebanon Oktoberfest to fund Playscape Projects was the inspiration of 5-year organizer, Jane Davis. Bob Henn developed a wildlife inventory, and he and Dave Woehr have held workshops for Steering Committee members at each meeting. The monthly Community Free Nature Programs were first organized by Dave Woehr.  Lebanon Garden Club, under the leadership of Mickie Marquis, created an amazing Butterfly Garden and Mosaic and have sponsored a Butterfly Release for the past five years.  Under the leadership of Scott Brunka, a grant was written to obtain 51 acres of preserve land. The list could go on and on...with so many people adding their talents, energy and resources. What an adventure it has been and it is just the beginning!!

 

 

 

 

  

Friendship Garden 2019

FRIENDSHIP GARDEN NEWS

Emiko Moore is forming a subcommittee to expand the small Japanese Friendship area now in Miller Ecological Park and to create a unique Japanese Garden. She is planning to find a landscape designer who specializes in Japanese gardens, and she is looking for volunteers for the Japanese Friendship Garden Committee and ideas for a landscaper.  She looks forward to having the designer draw up plans, and then she can develop a budget and plan a money raising campaign.  Emiko wants to use natural/natives and planting strategies that are Japanese inspired.  The Friendship Garden area is just beyond the Girl Scout Butterfly Garden along Will's Run which has been targeted for a native woodland in the long term. For more information on the connections between Matusunami Playground and Miller Ecological Park, Click here.  Contact Emiko Moore through Casey Burdick at the Lebanon City Building. 513-228-3104

 MEP Welcomes the new Lebanon Parks Maintenance Supervisor, Shawn Ford