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Published: Monday, October 1, 2007

Retiring director reflects on her time at Mill Creek Park

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The Poland woman was the park's first executive director.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

CANFIELD — During Susan Dicken's five years as executive director of Mill Creek MetroParks, park acreage increased, preserving natural areas.

Friday marked Dicken's last day. She retired after 21 years with the park district.

"It's just time for me," said Dicken, 55, of Poland.

Her two sons are grown and living out of the area and she recently remarried. Her first husband died four years ago.

She was hired as a specialist in planning, grants and public relations and later became development director. In 2002, Dicken was selected from a national search to be executive director, the first woman to occupy the job.

"She has been an outstanding executive director for the park," said M. Virginia Dailey, chairwoman of park commissioners. "We could not have done any better than Susan. She has just been outstanding in her love and devotion to the park."

Land acquisitions

During Dicken's time as director, the park acquired the Sawmill Creek Reserve, Mill Creek Wildlife Area and Mill Creek Preserve, totaling more than 1,000 acres.

The wildlife area is the former Paradise Fish Farm in North Lima. Mill Creek Preserve is the former sod farm on Western Reserve Road, Boardman, and the Sawmill Creek area surrounds a stream that feeds into Meander Reservoir.

Commissioners have tapped David Imbrogno of Clermont, Ky., former executive director of Bernheim Forest in Kentucky, as the new executive director. He starts the job next week at an annual pay of $86,320. Dicken's annual salary was $83,590.

Dicken also lists the land acquisitions as some of her proudest accomplishments, but she stresses that many people within the park district participated.

The lands were purchased using mostly state and federal grants and private donations.

Dicken views preservation of natural areas as imperative because "once it's gone it's gone."

"It's for the health of the community, too," Dicken said, listing water quality as an example.

She also cites the bike trail that runs from Western Reserve Road to the Trumbull County line as significant.

Although it won't happen with her at the helm, Dicken hopes to see the bikeway continue south to Columbiana County.

Changes

Seeing the park system change from a township park district to a metro park system serving all of Mahoning County was one of her best memories from her time with Mill Creek.

Voters approved the change to a metro park system in 1989.

She enjoyed the people she met who share her appreciation of the park system.

Some of it was unexpected.

"I was moved by the outpouring of the public in support for me as executive director and the love the public has for the park," Dicken said.

When she spoke to civic groups, for example, Dicken would hear park memories from the childhood of those attending.

She relayed the story of an elderly man's tale from his remembrances as a boy.

"He said, 'My mother used to wake me up at dawn and make me sit on a picnic table to reserve it for our Sunday afternoon picnics,'" Dicken said.

"I've seen a change in people's use of Mill Creek since 9/11," Dicken said. "They're staying closer to home and closer to family. We see more parents now. More people are coming to the park as families and picnicking or participating in sporting events."

She plans to remain in the area after retiring and to enjoy hobbies such as travel that she didn't have time to enjoy while she was working.

"When I wake up Monday morning, I will feel really good about my accomplishments at the park and feel that I'm leaving it in good hands," Dicken said.

Monday, October 1, 2007