Baseball Field Reservations
Residents interested in reserving time on the baseball field for the spring and summer may apply at Village Hall between January 1st and January 31st. A Baseball Field Reservation Request Form must be filled out and submitted to the Village Hall Office in order for your date and times to be considered. Requests will not be accepted by phone. Times will be allocated in February and reservation fees do apply. Those who have applied for field time will be notified.
Tennis/Pickleball/Basketball Courts
There is no charge for the basketball or tennis/pickleball courts. Court rules and etiquette are posted at the courts.
Hike and Bike Trails
Hiking and biking is also available to Village residents. The Metro Parks Hike and Bike Trail runs directly through the Village, partially following Village streets crossing Kent Road and traveling through our recreational campus behind Village Hall.
In addition, the Village maintains its’ own hiking trail, a 1.4 mile circular path, which runs along the river. This trail begins behind the softball field and is marked by wooden “swan” markers. The hiking trail was renamed The Marcia Mandala Trail in honor of the long-serving past president of Park Board.
Pavilion
The pavilion is located behind the ball field. It provides a much needed facility for our recreation area. After a ball game, a tennis match, or a walk or bike ride on the bike trail, community members have a place to sit down, enjoy a snack or picnic lunch, and take in the beauty of the surrounding area.
The pavilion features a combination fireplace and grill. There are six picnic tables, one that is wheel chair accessible, as is the shelter. The reservation fee for the pavilion is $50 for residents or $80 for non-residents. There is also a $100 security deposit which must be submitted as a separate check. Please stop into Village Hall to check available dates and obtain a permit. Reservations cannot be made over the phone.
Landscape Program
The Park and Recreation Board is responsible for all the trees on Village property. Currently, the Park Board is involved in developing a computer inventory of all Village trees to track health, maintenance, and removal of trees when necessary. Any resident with a concern regarding a tree on Village property should report their concern to the Village Hall staff.
The National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Silver Lake as a Tree City, USA for 30 years. In order to qualify for this award, the Village urban forestry program must include tree maintenance, a leaf and limb program, and an Arbor Day program.
Planting and maintaining landscaping on 32 traffic islands is another aspect of the Park Board’s responsibilities. The Village employs two seasonal gardeners to plant all the flowers under the supervision of the Park Board. Money for the flowers is donated by the Silver Lake Garden Club, which sponsors the annual Silver Lake Festival to raise the money. Any additional funds needed for plantings are allocated from the Park Board budget. Any suggestions for flower or tree plantings are always welcome.
Our community is enriched by residents who donate their time and talents to benefit their fellow citizens. The Park and Recreation Board would welcome any community member who would like to volunteer on any current program or project or help initiate a new one.
Ernest Fauser Arboretum
The Ern
est Fauser Arboretum is located beside the Village Hall and runs from Route 59 to the Cuyahoga River. The Village purchased the 2.91 acre property from Stanley and Alice Bauder in 1986 and has developed it into an area which can be enjoyed by all residents of the Village. In 1988, this property was named the Ernest Fauser Arboretum. Ernest Fauser served the Village as a dedicated member of the Park Board from January 1966 to December 1987. The Arboretum offers a pergola and wooded areas with diverse flora for viewing and has been developed with many tree and shrub specimens for your enjoyment.
Memorial Tree Donations
The Park Board is responsible for maintaining the trees in the Arboretum and accepting memorial donations for additional trees.
To have a tree planted in the Arboretum in honor of another individual, a $250 donation should be sent to the Village Hall under the designation of Memorial Donation. Please designate the person who is to be honored and the names of the individuals who are giving the donation. The Park Board will then order the tree and contact those who are donating the tree to arrange a time if they would like to be present when the tree is planted. An identification marker will be placed in front of the tree noting its’ botanical name and for whom it was planted.
Donations are also accepted for architectural gifts or smaller plantings that can be used throughout the Village. Please click here to view the donation form or contact the Village Hall for more information.
Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan in the summer of 2002. Scientists think that it arrived in the United States in solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Since it’s discovery, the EAB has been found in Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland and Virginia. It has killed 8 to 10 million ash trees and will continue to spread destruction unless an effective method of eradication is found. The beetle has no known predator in North America so we cannot count on natural predation to control it. It has already cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest product industries tens of millions of dollars.
Etomologists from the United States and Canada are studying the EAB to learn more about its biology and behavior and this information is being continually updated. Detection, control and eradication of EAB is a huge undertaking. Cooperation between Federal and State government agencies, municipalities, universities, the greening industry, and the public at large is essential to eliminate this pest. Human behavior is a defining factor in the spread of the EAB. The movement of any ash tree products advances the spread of EAB. You can help control the spread of EAB by not moving firewood, visually inspecting your ash trees for infestation and learning all that you can about the EAB. If you would like additional information, you can visit http://www.emeraldashborer.info or http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab or call 1-888-OHIO-EAB