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Joe Prekop
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Volunteer Spotlight
Each month, individual volunteers or volunteer groups are honored for their outstanding contributions. Honorees are invited to the monthly meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners and presented with the Star Award.
March 2008
Joe Prekop, of Akron, received the park district's "Star Volunteer" award, Wednesday, March 26, during the monthly meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners. He was nominated by Karl Simonson, graphic designer/production coordinator, for capturing thousands of beautiful images in the Metro Parks.
Many of Prekop's pictures have been used in publications, desk calendars, exhibits, banners and event fliers. "Joe's passion for the Metro Parks shows in every one of his photographs," said Simonson. "I never get tired of receiving his new images."
Prekop also volunteers almost daily for the Trail Patrol, walking to work in Cuyahoga Falls on the Gorge, Highbridge and Glens trails, along with city roads. As a Trail Patroller, Prekop provides staff with up-to-date information on trail conditions, helps deter vandalism and reports maintenance issues.
Prekop began volunteering in 1999 and has accumulated more than 1,500 service hours. "Volunteering is an enjoyable experience all the time, and I really love the parks," he said.
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Dick Bennett
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February 2008
Dick Bennett, of Cuyahoga Falls, received the park district’s “Star Volunteer” award, Wednesday, February 20, during the monthly meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners.
Bennett started volunteering sixteen years ago – six years before the park district’s formal volunteer program was created. He has since spent many of his 2,500 volunteer hours taking pictures of nature, gathering data for butterfly surveys, working the information desk at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm and patrolling many miles of trails.
Bennett and his family have frequented the parks since they moved to the Akron area in 1963. “My four kids grew up there (in the Metro Parks) – hiking trails, attending naturalist programs and completing the Fall Hiking Spree each year,” said Bennett, who retired from a trucking company in 1990.
The entire park district is special to Bennett, but he really enjoys hiking along Yellow Creek at O’Neil Woods Metro Park. “I’ve taken a lot of great pictures there, especially of the beautiful wildflowers along the creek,” he said.
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Paul Goodwin
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January 2008
Paul Goodwin, of Akron, received the park district's "Star Volunteer" award, Wednesday, January 23, during the monthly meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners. He was nominated by Maureen McGinty, chief of interpretive programming.
Goodwin started volunteering in 1999 as a founding member of the park district's Bike Patrol, which assists visitors and provides staff with up-to-date information about trail conditions. Now he aides McGinty with "Bike Through Time" programs, teaching visitors about the Ohio & Erie Canal. "Paul is passionate about canal history and cycling -- a great combination," McGinty said.
Goodwin is enthusiastic about the park district's volunteer program. "Metro Parks is a great organization to volunteer for," said Goodwin. "They do much to make it a meaningful and fun experience, and they communicate often that they value our time."
Goodwin especially enjoys biking along the scenic 4.26-mile stretch of towpath in Barberton.
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