Please use this as a supplement to information provided on the Secor Metropark map.

Messages for InterpretationSecor Metropark introduces the story of the unique Oak Openings Region and its fragile place in the preserva-tion of our natural world. • OntheedgeoftheOakOpeningsRegionliesSecor

Metropark with its wet woodlands, prairies and educational opportunities for enhancing local biodiversity.

• Fromhomesteadtoarboretumtocurrentrestorationefforts,SecorreflectschanginglandusechoicesintheOak Openings Region.

• TheNationalCenterforNaturePhotography(NCNP)inspiresreverenceforflora,faunaandtheirhabitatsthroughphotographyandvisualmedia.

What’s In A Name?Themoneyusedtopurchasethe550-acreSecor Metroparkcamefromrevenuegeneratedbyadown-townToledoparkinglotgiftedtoMetroparksby ArthurSecor.Metroparkssoldtheparkinglotin1985.

Natural and Human HistorySecorMetroparkispartofthegloballysignificantOakOpeningsRegion.Theparkislocatedatthenortherntrailheadfor10,000+acresofpubliclyheldopenspacethroughtheOakOpeningsCorridor–landwhich containsmorerareplantsandanimalsthananywhereelse in Ohio. A post-glacial beach ridge is visible just southoftheNCNP.

Twocreeks,PrairieandWiregrass,runthroughSecorMetropark and are part of the Ottawa River watershed.

ThewoodlandsatSecoraresomeofthebestfortreeandspringwildflowerdiversity.

Notablespreadingbases(buttresses)onmaturetreesinSecor’s woods indicate that they originally grew in very wet soil where stabilization was necessary.

WolfingerRoadandCemeteryarenamedafterthefirstfamilyofsettlerswholivedandfarmedhereasearlyasthe1830’s.Today,RichfieldTownshipmaintainsthecemetery.

Initsearlyyears,theparkoperatedanimpressive arboretum,andseveralunusualtreevarietiesstillcanbefoundneartheNCNPandtheShepherstMemorial.MaxShepherstwastheMetroparksDirectoratthetimeof Secor’s inception and during the park’s early decades.

Intheformerarboretumarea,visitorsmightalsonoticeseveralglacialerratics,orlargeboulders.These

Secor Metropark Highlights

PrecambriangraniterockswereinitiallypushedfromCanadaintoourareabyglaciers.Duringthearboretumera,theywerehauledfromnearbyfieldsandusedtomarkhorticulturalgroves.

Formerlyamoreconventionalnaturecenter,theNCNPbecameagalleryshowcasingnaturephotographyin2003,andunderwentmorestructuralandgroundreno-vationsin2013-2014.Today,itusesmixedmediatoinspire conservation of our natural resources.

ThesmallpondneartheNCNPwasman-madeandveryornamentalinearlyyearsofparkhistory.Today,itismonitoredbyMetroparksVolunteersasasemi-permanentvernalpool.Tannicacidfromoaktreeleavescausesitsverydarkcolor.Thetinyplantonthepond’ssurfaceisDuckweed—oursmallestvascularplant(withroots,leavesandflower).

Plant Life(*=state-listedrare)Plantsoftheplantedprairieinclude:Bigbluestem IndiangrassCordgrass SwitchgrassPrairiedock TallcoreopsisVirginiamountainmint*Fringedgentian *Rattlesnakemaster

Tulip tree flower Witch hazel

Jack-in-the-pulpitRed baneberry

Eastern mole

Woodlandwildflowersinclude:Bloodroot WildgingerSpringbeauty SessiletrilliumGreatwhitetrillium Cut-leavedtoothwortWildgeranium Jack-in-the-pulpitSarsparilla Spottedtouch-me-notMay-apple Turtlehead CardinalFlower True&FalseSolomon’s Spottedtouch-me-not seal Indiancucumber-root*Redbaneberry

Notabletreesandshrubsinclude:Tuliptrees SassafrasBlackgum RedoakWhiteoak AmericanbeechBitternuthickory PawPawFloweringdogwood Redbud

In spring, the understory shrub, Spicebush, brightens the woodswithsmallyellowblossoms.Infall,Witchhazeldoesthesame,andfillsthewoodswithaveryfresharoma.

WildlifeMammalsinclude:Redfox White-taileddeerCoyote EasternmoleVirginiaopossum RaccoonRedsquirrel Southernflyingsquirrel

Reptilesandamphibiansinclude:Westernchorusfrog SpringpeeperNorthernleopardfrog GraytreefrogMidland painted turtle Snapping turtleNorthernbrownsnake Easternhognosesnake

Birdsinclude:Pileatedwoodpecker AmericantreesparrowEasterntowhee Ruby-throatedhummingbirdAmericanWoodcock White-breastednuthatchTuftedtitmouse Black-cappedchickadeeAmericanCrow AmericangoldfinchCooper’shawk Sharp-shinnedhawkBarredowl Easternscreechowl

CavitynestboxesusedbyEasternbluebirds,Treeswal-lowsandHousewrensaremonitoredbyvolunteersatthe park.

Insectsandspidersinclude:Greatspangledfritillary SpringandSummerazurePrayingmantis BlackandYellowArgiopeSilver-spottedskipper HarvestmanspeciesVelvetmite 6-spottedtigerbeetleGreendarner Cicadakillerwasp Harvestmanspecies(Daddy-longlegs)

Stay on trails and use protective clothing and insecticide toavoidpoisonivy,Americandogticksandmosquitos.

(Note:ThereisnopoisonoakinNorthwestOhio.)

Daddy-long legs

Sassafras Duckweed

Pileated woodpeckerBlack and yellow argiope

Cicada killer wasp Coyote

Southern flying squirrel Ruby-throated hummingbird on Cardinal flower