DEAR EDITOR:

This is regarding the new Ford Nature Center at Mill Creek MetroParks. We visited with an open mind. We left extremely disappointed.

The building itself is nice. The landscaping outside was pretty — little areas of wildflowers and trees, which will get nicer with time. Behind the building is a small field converted to a wildflower area. Beyond that is a reading area, with log seats and a small free library. It could use more shade, and we were surprised the library contained no nature books. Bird feeders remain, but you can’t get near them anymore. There is a rooftop garden with various types of stonecrop that was neat.

But once you step inside, it is the most unappealing nature center we ever visited.

Remember the turtles, snakes, animal skins and owl that used to be there? The taxidermied bear and deer and fox? Everything is gone. There isn’t a single living thing inside. Some items were donated to other nature centers; the rest were moved to the new education building next to the nature center. However, the education building is open only to groups having a program, so you can’t see anything unless you are part of a scheduled group.

While we visited inside the “nature” center, we heard multiple people ask where the animals were. They were told they were gone. There was a large vertical stack of screens showing a waterfall, and frankly, the location of this by the stairwell was disorienting.

The gift shop was OK. There’s a bird-viewing area overlooking feeders and wildflower field. There were binoculars, a field guide and whiteboard to track which birds people see. A bird ID computer didn’t work. A large children’s area was in the basement including some need things, but again, nothing was real. No snakeskins, bird feathers, turtle shells, fox fur, robin’s eggs — nothing real for kids to feel. Everything was electronic, plastic models or pictures. It’s as if the park consulted with IT people but not naturalists when planning the nature center. We walked to the education building and looked in. Taxidermized animals were up so high you couldn’t get a good look. The room had a stark, sterile feel. Again, nothing was real to touch or interact with.

We hope consideration is given to changing things to a real nature experience.

We love the park and supported it all our lives; however, the current administration’s decisions alienate many. It’s a shame we are asked to support tax levies for the park, but we can’t vote on who runs it.

JANET MISEL and

CHRISTOPHER KALIS

Youngstown