Greater Dayton Metroparks (Cleveland, Beavercreek, Green: rail, association, suburbs)

[WRnative]

I did a search for a thread discussing metroparks in Greater Dayton and didn't find one. Having stumbled across this article, such a thread surely is overdue!

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/t...n-parks/#close

What are the various metropark systems in Greater Dayton. Does each county have one? How large are they? What are their histories? What are the better ones and/or personal favorites?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton..._area#Counties

https://www.metroparks.org/

[wrightflyer]

There is one south of Bellbrook in Greene County. That is the only one I know of that lies outside the core metro county (Montgomery County). I have driven past the Bellbrook location and they have horse riding trails in addition to hiking trails. I think Cleveland has the biggest metro parks system in part because of the greenbelt plan around the core inner-ring suburbs. This can certainly be seen on its east side. Dayton does not have that degree of centralized park management.

Part of that may be Greene County being so close to Dayton proper, resulting in different park jurisdictions and management. Others may be the State of Ohio manages a number of areas that may have been metro parks if not left in state hands. John Bryant and Clifton Gorge come to mind. The entire Little Miami is a State and National Scenic River. Beavercreek has a string of ever expanding wetland association owned parcels with trails, fighting pack against the ever encroaching tide of sprawl in the township.

I do not know if Metro Parks manages some of the rail trails in Montgomery or surrounding counties. I believe they do manage the Montgomery County corridors. I know in Greene it is maintained by Greene County Parks and Trails. Ohio was a major proponent of converting old rail lines into bike and pedestrian paths, well before New York City's High Line was even a thought.

[Natural510]

For Dayton proper, obviously Carillon (https://www.daytonhistory.org/visit/...istorical-park) and RiverScape (https://www.metroparks.org/places-to-go/riverscape/) are tops.

Clark County's main attractions are George Rogers Clark park (http://www.clarkcountyparks.org/george-rogers-clark-park/) and Buck Creek State Park with its reservoir (http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/buckcreek).