YOUNGSTOWN – Two women who continue to be outspoken critics of the Mill Creek MetroParks’ deer reduction plan that began Oct. 1 have presented a series of petitions asking that the park’s executive director step down.

During the public comments portion of Monday evening’s regular park board meeting in the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center, city residents Chris Flak and Janet Bernard presented Aaron Young with 2,504 signed petitions from individuals — including many with the Save the Deer of Mill Creek Park group – who say they’re unhappy with the job he’s done for the park.

“It’s the accumulation of a whole lot of things,” Bernard said when asked why those who signed the documents were displeased.

Both women stressed that not all of the signatures are from those who oppose the deer hunts, but the monthslong controversy has brought many people closer together.

While not specific, Flak added that she feels a chasm has grown between park officials and the public. Flak, who heads the monthly Vegetarians of the Greater Youngstown Area, said she remains unhappy at what she feels is the denigration of the park and certain ways taxpayer dollars are spent.

The petition effort began in late July, she added.

Bernard, who has lived near the park for years, said she’s concerned about the beloved property’s future.

“It gives me pause: What’s next?” she added.

So far, 147 deer have been harvested from hunting and an additional 30 from U.S. Department of Agriculture-employed sharpshooters, Nick Derico, the MetroParks’ natural resources manager, noted at the meeting. He added that no animals were killed between Dec. 3 and Saturday.

Also speaking at Monday’s session against the deer hunts was Mickey Drabison, who heads the Save the Deer group. Drabison spent much of his three minutes, the amount of time the board allots to each person who speaks, questioning the validity of the hunts.

Young offered no comment after Monday’s meeting about the petition drive, except to say that he has no intention of resigning.

Also during the session, Justin Rogers, the park’s planning and operations director, outlined a series of projects, capital improvements and upgrades that have occurred this year in the park’s 14 facilities on more than 5,000 acres.

Most of the improvements have been to roads, parking lots, trails, signage, pavilions and comfort stations, as well as to several sites that include Lanterman’s Mill, the Vickers Nature Preserve, the MetroParks Farm in Canfield, the wildlife sanctuary, Collier Preserve, Fellows Riverside Gardens and the Hawkins Marsh site off Western Reserve Road in Smith Township.

Rogers also outlined several carryover projects from 2022, such as the Ford Nature Center, which reopened last spring, along with the resurfacing of the northern portion of East Newport Drive. Others were infrastructure and resurfacing to West Park Drive, the second phase of the East Park Drive Hike & Bike Trail, stream and wetland restoration efforts and improvements to Springfield Forest.

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