The Lake Parks Foundation is pleased to announce its 30th anniversary with an afternoon of activities for children, families and adults during “Pallister Day” on Saturday, June 15 from Noon – 3pm at Gully Brook Park, 2100 River Road in Willoughby. Pallister Day is being held in honor of Hugh & Gretta Pallister who were founding board members of the Lake Parks Foundation.
Guests are welcome to Gully Brook Park to enjoy guided hikes, trail cart tours, and geocaching with help from Lake Metroparks staff. There will also be three Raptor Encounter shows with birds of prey from educational programs held by staff from Penitentiary Glen Reservation. Children and families can enjoy a color craft and painting rocks with park naturalists in the shelter. Hikes begin at 12:15pm and the first Raptor Encounters show will begin at 12:30pm. Light refreshments will be served.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the Lake Parks Foundation’s 30th anniversary with our friends and neighbors across Lake County. And very thankful for the support of Lake Metroparks by providing us will skilled staff to lead our activities. By inviting our community to celebrate with us and enjoy the natural beauty we are helping to preserve, we hope to inspire guests to take advantage of our diverse parks this summer and preserve our county’s natural resources into the future,” said Kevin Clinton, President of The Lake Parks Foundation.
“The Pallisters were instrumental in preserving Lake County’s natural resources as seen in their lifelong support of the Lake Parks Foundation, and other organizations such as the Burroughs Nature Club. Pallister Day is about honoring their memory and dedication to our community parks and sharing their love of nature with everyone,” added Clinton.
Hugh and Gretta Pallister were key founding Board Members of The Lake Parks Foundation. They spent their lives promoting the cause of conservation and contributed toward preserving Mentor Marsh, Headlands Beach Dunes, and Hach-Otis Woodlands. Gretta’s father and his friends started the Burroughs Nature Club and set the example for a lifelong interest in nature, after his death they established the Shipman Fund through The Lake Parks Foundation in which park professional are given the opportunity to expand their education.
