Snowboarding, Anyone?
Winter fun on a downhill course

Depending on your reaction after reading the following statement, you're either a freeze baby or an adventure seeker. So, here we go: One look outside and it's obvious, it's time to go sledding or snowboarding.

Freezing temperatures and swirling winds aside, Northeast Ohio boasts plenty of friendly hills just waiting for you to fly down with youthful abandon. In fact, every weekend or snow day these locations are filled with adventure seekers looking to balance the increased wind chill with adrenaline pumping through their veins.

"We have 13 hills we call dedicated sledding or snowboarding areas," said Cleveland Metroparks Marketing and Public Relations Manager Bob Rotatori. "It's really sledding but we know that snowboarding is fast becoming popular. We also have three locations (Hinckley Reservation sledding hill off State Road, Mill Stream Run Reservation Pawpaw Picnic Area and North Chagrin Reservation Old River Farm Picnic Area) that have night lighting so you can use it when it gets dark."

Among the most popular Cleveland Metroparks hills are the Big Creek Reservation Memphis Picnic Area, the Hinckley Reservation Sledding Hill, the South Chagrin Reservation and North Chagrin Reservation Old River Farm Picnic Area. While in some ways it's a chicken-or-an-egg conversation, what role did the Metroparks play in designating the hills?

"It's kind of a combination of people migrating to them and starting to use them, but it's also because of the way that we've maintained it and maybe moved some of the tree boundaries to make it a bit safer for people," Rotatori said. "That's how they become the sledding areas. Also, a couple of the golf courses are available to use too, including the three West Side courses: Big Met Golf Course, Little Met Golf Course and Mastick Woods Golf Course."

Over the past decade Rotatori said the use of snowboards has been evident around the Cleveland Metroparks hills. In fact, the park district made sure to create an inclusive environment where the sled and snowboard could coexist.

"With people using snowboards, we started incorporating into some of the literature that they are acceptable," Rotatori said. "Really, we want to make sure everybody uses caution and the proper equipment. Also, dressing properly, being aware of your surroundings and who is around you and just using common sense is important. And if you see somebody going down in front of you, make sure there is proper distance."

Rotatori believes that sled riding and snowboarding in the Cleveland Metroparks is somewhat of a hidden gem of an activity in which more people should partake.

"I think it's a good opportunity for people to realize, if we're living in Cleveland and we have these opportunities, that we should enjoy it instead of trying to avoid it," Rotatori said. "This is especially true in the winter months. We try to preach the parks are open year-round, and in the spring/summer/fall they're probably used more but in the wintertime you can have just as much fun."

Here's a list of designated sledding/snowboarding in the Cleveland Metroparks:


Big Creek Reservation
Memphis Picnic Area

Brecksville Reservation
Sleepy Hollow Golf Course fairways, designated areas only (closes March 1)

Euclid Creek Reservation
Kelly Picnic Area

Hinckley Reservation
sledding hill, off State Road

Huntington Reservation
sledding hill, east of Porter Creek Drive

Mill Stream Run Reservation
Pawpaw Picnic Area

North Chagrin Reservation
Old River Farm Picnic Area

Rocky River Reservation
sledding hill, north of Barrett Road in Berea
Big Met Golf Course fairways, designated areas only (closes March 1)
Little Met Golf Course fairways, designated areas only (closes March 1)
Mastick Woods Golf Course fairways, designated areas only (closes March 1)

South Chagrin Reservation
sledding hill, corner of Sulphur Springs Drive and Chagrin River Road
sledding hill, off Hawthorn Parkway south of Solon Road

For more information, call 216-635-3200 or visit http://www.clemetparks.com www.clemetparks.com.

Free-lance writer John Benson spends most of his time writing for various papers throughout Northeast Ohio.

When he's not writing about music or entertainment, he can be found coaching his two boys in basketball, football and baseball or watching movies with his lovely wife, Maria. John also occasionally writes for CoolCleveland.com