Metro Parks offers Wild Back Yards Program

Richfield’s naturalist has earned recognition from Summit Metro Parks’ Wild Back Yards Program for her outdoor space that is friendly to native wildlife. Ellen Daniels achieved the expert level in the program for her native plantings, invasive plant management, habitat quality, ecological footprint and spreading the word about the importance of “Wild Back Yards.”

According to Daniels, the Metropark program encourages residents to take some time and inventory their outdoor living space with special attention paid to native plants and the ecosystem. 

“There are some simple ways that everyone can make their yards healthier while preserving the beauty of the plants they grow there,” Daniels said.  “At the expert level, Summit Metro Parks sends out their biologist to take a deeper look at the backyard environment and offer suggestions to make it safer and healthier.”

Anyone with an outdoor space can participate in the Wild Back Yards program and earn rewards for each level of achievement. Summit Metro Parks provides a variety of tools, resources, naturalist-led programming, and expert guidance to help residents make small changes in their yards that create big impacts for local wildlife. Rewards help participants continue along their Wild Back Yards journey, and include a tote bag, garden kneeler, water bottle and gardening gloves. To learn more, visit summitmetroparks.org/wildbackyards.aspx. ∞