Description : Garfield Park Reservation is located in Garfield Heights. The reservation features picnic areas, a marsh, trails, and a nature center. The history of Garfield Park dates back almost a century. In 1894, the city of Cleveland purchased three farms, a half mile south of the city limits as a site for a new south side park. It was officially opened in 1895, as Newburg Park, and much of the beautiful stonework still evident in the reservation today dates from the original project. It was leased to Cleveland Metroparks in 1986.
The old lake beds have been reclaimed by nature and are managed as green space for wildlife. The rich deep woodlands support a host of songbirds throughout the year.
Mill Creek is located right off of Broadway Avenue. Also located here is a Nature Center with full washroom services. The nature center has some activities designed, primarily, for younger children. There are actually several testing sites at this location. Wolf Creek feeds into Mill Creek which then, ultimately, flows into the Cuyahoga River. Wolf Creek is a vernal pool and is far less polluted than Mill Creek. This is a neat testing site because students can test Wolf Creek and Mill Creek and compare the data collected. This can lead to some really enlightening discussions about the effects of surface runoff into the Mill Creek. There are several hiking trails here that make the water fairly easily accessible.
NOTE: Students will NOT be allowed to enter the water at Mill Creek. Teachers will be required to collect the water samples in large buckets. It is recommended that collectors wear gloves for this testing.
