Metro Parks have plenty to offer guests

Lorain County Metro Parks has a whole raft of events in Lorain for residents to enjoy.

According to Director James Ziemnik, the district is currently running two properties in the city of Lorain — the northern half of Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave., and Day’s Dam, 2846 E. 31st St.

Lakeview Park was purchased by Lorain Mayor Leonard Miller Moore for $53,551.38 around 1916 for the public to enjoy the lakefront views provided by the property. Shortly after the park was established, a bathhouse was erected to house the changing rooms, concessions and a deck, according metroparks.cc.

The great tornado of 1924 ripped across the property destroying most of the bathhouse and taking the lives of eight people, the site said.

According to Ziemnik, the district signed a 99-year lease on the northern section of the park in 2006.

“We’re probably $10 million and counting in the money we’ve invested in there over the years,” he said.

Ziemnik said the rose garden at Lakeview was the first project the district undertook after leasing the property.

He said it was initially a

memorial started by the Rotary Club, thus its distinctive wheel shape, to commemorate those lost in the 1924 tornado. He said it gained a newfound significance after World War II.

“We program it, we’ve got all kind of activities, family reunions, picnics and the beach,” he said.

The major events coming to Lakeview this summer are the Music Under the Stars concert series and the Sunset Concert series.

Music Under the Stars is sponsored by Northwest Bank, Sprenger Health Care Systems, Mercy Health and Lorain County Community College and welcomes residents to bring a blanket or chair to enjoy music beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the east end amphitheater.

The Chardon Polka Band will be performing June 11. Truenorth Big Band will be performing July 9. Eddie and the Edsels will be performing Aug. 13 and Sept. 10 is Latino Fest.

The Sunset Concert series is similar, but begins at 7 p.m. in the east end amphitheater.

Country rock ensemble Hard Drive Band will be making an appearance July 7. Blues jazz outfit Colin Dussault’s Blues Project will be performing July 14. The Ray Bans, a contemporary island Motown-esque act will be coming to town July 21. The Geezecats will be

bringing their brand of ’50s and ’60s -style rock ’n’ roll on July 28.

“They just enjoy it,” Ziemnik said explaining the popularity of the two concert series. “It’s the kind of music, they want to sit out under the stars on a Sunday night and you get the sunset coming over the lake. It’s just a beautiful place to be to listen to some music.”

Lakeview Park will also serve as host to two volleyball tournaments this summer. According to the district’s public information officer, Vanessa Klesta, they will be held the last full weekend in June and the last full weekend of July.

The district will also be partnering with the Lorain Public Library System to present their ninth annual Summer Library Program Beach Party Kickoff from noon to 3 p.m. June 3.

The theme for this year’s summer reading program is Build a Better World and the beach kickoff is open to anyone interested. It will feature games, educational activities, face painting and a performance by the Barbies of Steel dance troupe.

Conversely, Day’s Dam has no summer programs, but acts as the trailhead to the Black River Reservation. It features a playground and a rentable pavilion.

People interested in booking the pavilions at Day’s Dam or Lakeview Park can contact the Lorain County Metropolitan Park District at 440-4585121 or visit metroparks. cc.