At over 3,000 acres, Liberty Park is the largest natural area managed by Summit Metro Parks and is home to many unique geological features. It is the embodiment of the park district’s mission to “conserve and sustainably manage natural resources while inspiring people to connect with nature through clean and safe parks.”
Let’s take a look at what makes this park special.
But first, join us Saturday, June 7 for the Liberty Park Nature Center 10th Anniversary Celebration. Enjoy music, light refreshments and activities for all ages!
A place in history
The land surrounding Liberty Park has a rich cultural and natural history that is reflected and honored through its exhibits and programs.
Pre-history cultures nomadically hunted, camped and sustainably utilized natural resources in the area for thousands of years. European settlement introduced permanent uses of the land through farming, logging, quarrying and community building.
The Twinsburg Ledges Area, home to Liberty Park Nature Center, was purchased in 2001 by the City of Twinsburg through a bond measure passed by residents. Since 2015, the nature center has proudly provided visitors with engaging natural and cultural history exhibits, diverse hiking trails, a beautiful and comfortable place to relax, and fun and fascinating naturalist-led programs. It stands as an eco-friendly model, with features like geothermal systems, natural rainwater management and native plantings.
Pond Brook restoration
Once relegated to serving as an unnatural, trenched farm ditch supporting little life, Pond Brook has been restored to five miles of meandering stream and more than 100 acres of functioning wetlands.
The 15-year project, completed in 2020, has re-established an important ecosystem for diverse wildlife including otters, ospreys, sandhill cranes, and rare dragonfly and salamander species.
Conservation gems
Liberty Park contains conservation areas with unique sandstone ledge and wetland habitats that are a refuge for otters, bobcats, bald eagles, turkey vultures and ospreys as well as rare species of bats, salamanders, insects and plants.
Designated as an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society, it provides essential habitat for bird populations during breeding and migration.
Park partnership
Tinker’s Creek State Nature Preserve and the Tinker’s Creek Area of Liberty Park are both special partnerships with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Since 2014, Summit Metro Parks has managed the former state park, including a trail, shelter, archery range and fishing pond. The nature preserve provides access to wildlife viewing via trails through beautiful wetlands.
Exploring by foot
Liberty Park has 10 amazing trails. From the paved 0.25-mile Maple Loop to the more rugged and rocky Ledges Trail, there are opportunities to explore and connect with nature for every ability!
These trails highlight wetlands, ponds, grasslands, forests and the unique sandstone ledge habitat.
Community focus
The nature center hosts hundreds of students from Twinsburg, Hudson, Woodridge, Nordonia and other surrounding school districts each year, forging early bonds with nature.
Naturalists also take the show on the road, visiting local senior centers, garden clubs, schools and other partner organizations, furthering our educational reach.
Raising the next generation
Liberty Park is home to the park district’s nursery where biologists grow native trees, shrubs and more to populate our parks, especially around disturbed areas and new construction.
Important work at the nursery includes the propagation of rare species, helping preserve local biodiversity.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, park staff also work hard to remove invasive species to ensure balance.
Maple Mania
Everybody loves maple syrup! Maple Mania, Liberty Park’s keystone event, takes place each year in March when we tap over 100 sugar maple trees to produce maple syrup.
Visitors can observe the process, learn the history of syrup production and taste the end result. Special thanks to Friends of Metro Parks for fundraising much of our specialty equipment.
Visit Liberty Park
Liberty Park is an enormous property with many trailheads and park areas, featuring trails, activities and programs everyone can enjoy. Explore the areas that are part of Liberty Park on your next visit to your Metro Parks:
- Twinsburg Ledges Area & Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg
- Pond Brook Conservation Area, 3973 E. Aurora Rd., Twinsburg
- Tinkers Creek Area, 10303 Aurora-Hudson Rd., Streetsboro
- Tinkers Creek State Nature Preserve, 1230 Old Mill Rd., Aurora
- Recreation Area, 9385 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg