Five Rivers MetroParks

It's the final countdowwwn! 🌊 High temps are here this week, just in time for your last chance to splash. Water play ends on Labor Day, so we hope you'll take time to visit one of our water play destinations at RiverScape, Wegerzyn Gardens or Island MetroParks. Link in bio/comment to learn more!

The ‘ber moths are upon us and we have a ton of festivals, programs and events planned for you to enjoy in your Five Rivers MetroParks. This week is your last chance to splash and the final Summer Music Series Concert, 80’s Party with Retrobution. You can also Try Mountain Biking for free tomorrow at MoMBA and check out the FIRST Get Outside Book Club program of the season at Englewood MetroPark. Learn more and register!

The Summer Music Series at Five Rivers MetroParks is presented by AES Ohio.
Additional supporting sponsors: Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation, Enterprise Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. and Bonbright Distributors .

We're teaming up with The Foodbank, Inc. to host four food drives each Saturday in September in honor of Hunger Action Month. Partners will join us at the 2nd Street Market to collect shelf stable items from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday. Select Market vendors will also have shelf stable items that can be donated.

Our late night ranger crew made sure we didn't miss the lunar eclipse this last week. 🌔💙 While the eclipse was partial, the majority of the moon was still caught in the Earth's shadow! Huge shout out to our multi-talented ranger crew for the cool shots and protecting our natural spaces while we're 😴😴😴.
🌔📷 Sergeant Flaugher
🌔📷 Ranger Lewis
🌔📷 Ranger Nave

“The hardest part of being caregivers to our wildlife friends, those little pieces of herself that nature lends us for a time, is when nature calls them back.”

We are heartbroken to share that Wildlife Ambassador Eragon, Five Rivers MetroParks’ red-tailed hawk, has passed away yesterday after a short illness. Due to his advanced age (likely in his late 20s) his immune system was not as strong as it once was and he contracted an infection that spread to his lungs.

Eragon came to MetroParks in 2022 from Oaken Acres Wildlife Center in Illinois, where he was treated for wounds that left him with partial blindness in one eye and an amputated wing. Because he could not be returned to the wild, Eragon found a home at Germantown MetroPark under the great care of our education staff and volunteers. While at MetroParks, Eragon attended many festivals and visited many classrooms, libraries and more, meeting around 18,000 people of all ages.

Eragon thrived in MetroParks’ care due to the love of our community and the hard work, dedication, protection and deep affection from our staff and volunteers. Our Wildlife Ambassadors aren’t just our “co-workers,” they become our family.

If you met Eragon, we hope you’ll share a happy memory with our staff and volunteers, who are very saddened by his passing.

Today was bittersweet (we ugly cried😭😭), as MetroParks Chief of Planning Carrie Scarff spent her final day at Five Rivers MetroParks after nearly 30 years of service. During her time at MetroParks, Carrie played such a huge role in helping create your favorite spaces and places in the parks, including Dayton’s front porch, RiverScape MetroPark. Dayton’s outdoor recreation scene would also not be what it is today without Carrie’s leadership when helping create MetroParks’ outdoor recreation department. Years later, residents, travelers, businesses and beyond choose Dayton as a place to live, work, learn and play as the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest. Many thanks to Carrie for helping us dream big, lead with kindness and take pride in being public servants. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating Carrie’s retirement. We’ll see you on the trails, Carrie!

Happy National Dog Day to all the dogs! Big dogs, little dogs, senior dogs, rescue dogs, wet dogs, stinky dogs – we love them all! However, the top dogs are dogs that are vibing on a leash at all times in your Five Rivers MetroParks! We also hope you’ll bring your pups to see us at our most dog friendly event of the year – the Wagner Subaru Outdoor Experience on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 at Eastwood MetroPark.