ODNR opened a new visitor center at Portage Lakes State Park, enhancing the visitor experience with a 6,000-square-foot facility, interactive exhibits, and ADA-compliant access to Turkeyfoot Lake.

The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo celebrated the birth of a rare Eastern black rhino calf ahead of World Rhino Day, reflecting a hopeful sign for the species' conservation.

North Ridgeville's Root Road Park will receive upgrades, including an expanded parking lot and new stormwater system, funded by a $500,000 state grant.

The Akron Zoo's white-cheeked gibbon family welcomed baby Leuco, named by the gibbon parents in a public contest, boosting conservation awareness for the endangered species.

Cleveland's Parks and Recreation Division offers a free pool schedule for summer 2025 starting June 7, featuring both outdoor and indoor pools with activities for all ages. Pools are open with safety measures and require online registration.

Northeast Ohio lakes are tagged as top fishing spots for various fish, with affordable licenses and free days for new anglers. ODNR promotes its mobile app for fishing tips and rules, and offers Fish Ohio pins for noteworthy catches.

Cleveland Heights is revitalizing Denison Park by demolishing the old Pool House to make way for new facilities, and repainting tennis courts to accommodate pickleball, utilizing ARPA funds.

Mentor residents will vote on a proposed 92-foot observation tower in the Lagoons Nature Preserve this May. Discussions will focus on its benefits versus potential environmental impact.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has opened a naming contest for a baby sloth bear born on December 22, 2024, encouraging public donations to vote and support sloth bear conservation.

Mentor, Ohio's Civic Center Park, is set to undergo a series of upgrades, including new basketball and pickleball courts, a 152-space parking lot, and a 42-foot-tall waterslide. Some existing structures will be demolished.

The Akron Zoo celebrates National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with Inclusion Days, offering free entry to visitors wearing orange and inclusive activities.

The Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Marina Causeway are closing temporarily starting February 24, 2025, for maintenance, affecting access for visitors and boaters.

The ODNR and its division received multiple awards at the OPRA Conference, with Director Mary Mertz inducted into the Hall of Fame and Heather Bokman earning the Jack Hanna Award.