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Renovated Hills and Dales MetroPark draws holiday crowd

Conrad Brindamour, a Kettering resident, cooks on a grill while attending a birthday party at the Pawpaw pavillion at the newly renovated Hills and Dales MetroPark, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009.

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Jeremy Youngerman, 9, walks on the rocks while attending a birthday party at the Pawpaw pavillion at Hills & Dales Park in Oakwood, Sept. 7, 2009. This was the first major holiday the park was open since a $4 million renovation.

By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer Updated 11:36 PM Monday, September 7, 2009

KETTERING — Cloudy skies and rain didn’t discourage picnickers and other nature lovers at Hills & Dales MetroPark on Labor Day.

The first major holiday since a $4 million renovation transformed the park into a show piece of Adirondack-style design attracted a variety of visitors Monday, Sept. 7.

Dog walkers, anglers and lots of energetic youngsters burning off cookout calories shared the park’s 85 acres of rolling hills, wetlands, boardwalks and picturesque shelters.

Corey Blair, 17, of Kettering, spent part of the afternoon casting a fishing line into a pond.

The result: three bass between 9 and 12 inches in length. He was there with his date, Taylor, who watched from a nearby bench, and his younger brother, Ben, 9.

“Gotta get him out of the house,” Corey explained.

Ben had his own fishing rod to keep busy and followed his brother’s instructions.

Corey approved of the park improvements.

“Love it. It’s nice and peaceful,” he said. “I’m glad they got it done. Everything looks nice, and it’s a great date spot.”

Mark Williams, 39, of Miamisburg, relaxed with his wife, Kim, 38, by the large shelter in what is known as the park’s Paw Paw Camp.

A United Parcel Service driver by day, Williams said he noticed the park’s reconstruction while driving his route.

He brought along two sons, Austin, 11, and Brody, 5, to wind them down.

“We needed a place to come, and we love it over here,” Williams said. “It’s beautiful, and it’s top-notch. They didn’t go chintzy on us.”

Dorraine Robison, 46, was there with her husband Matt, 49, and their Maltese, Zeke. They spotted a fawn during their walk.

“We just love it,” she said. “Just the boardwalk is really nice.”

The park was originally 297 acres, the vision of NCR co-founder John Patterson.

Today, the area is split between the city of Dayton’s Community Golf Course, which used to be open meadows, and the forested park that hugs Patterson Boulevard and is managed by Five Rivers MetroParks.

Five Rivers has a long-term management lease for the park from Dayton.

The original park was designed between 1906 and 1918 by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm, founded by sons of the architect who designed New York City’s Central Park.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7407 or sbennish @DaytonDailyNews.com.

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