Visit website http://www.neo.rr.com/MetroParks/parks/naturealm.html for more information DIRECTIONS: 1828 Smith Road, between Sand Run and Riverview Roads, in West Akron From I-80 Turnpike or I-77 South Take Exit 11 to I-77. Take I-77 South to Exit 138 at Ghent Road. Turn south (left) on Ghent Road and go to the light at Smith Rd. Turn left on Smith Road. After the third light at Sand Run Road, the park entrance is approximately ¼ mile on the right. From I-77 North Take I-77 North and exit at Miller Road. Turn right on Miller Road and follow until it dead-ends into Sand Run Parkway. Turn right on Sand Run Parkway and follow until the light at Sand Run Road. Turn left on Sand Run Road and go to the light at Smith Road. Turn right on Smith Road and the park entrance is approximately ¼ mile on the right. F.A. Seiberling Naturealm Purchased in 1964, the Metro Parks 104-acre nature center and arboretum was named in honor of F. A. Seiberling, founder of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Mr. Seiberling was an early member of the Board of Park Commissioners and in 1929 he gave the first of many gifts, eventually totaling more than 400 acres, to help establish Sand Run Metro Park of which the Naturealm is a part. Mr. Seiberling also owned this very property from 1920 until 1948. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unique Features Includes a unique underground Visitor Center with exhibits highlighting many subjects. Special programs are frequently offered here. There is a 16 acre arboretum, a Rock & Herb Garden, observation decks, three ponds, hiking trails including a suspension bridge, and a tallgrass prairie demonstration area. Natural Scene At the Naturealm, 16 acres have been developed into an arboretum featuring a collection of more than 300 varieties of trees and shrubs. Plants are labeled to aid in identification and are grouped according to growth habit: columnar, weeping, pyramidal, etc. Special areas include a large display of flowering crabapples and groupings of rhododendrons. The scenic paths through the arboretum are paved and have easy grades, making them accessible to all people. An observation deck and vine arbor constructed with donations from Witan, a service club, provides places to relax and watch birds which frequent the area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summer & Winter Activities Hiking Nature Observation Interpretive Programming and Environmental Education -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Facilities Naturealm underground visitors center. Naturealm auditorium for nature organizations. Arboretum and herb garden. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trails Symbol Trail Name Length Description Cherry Lane .5 mile Gentle; Nature Walk Fernwood .5 mile Gentle; Nature Walk Seneca 1.3 miles Gentle; Nature Walk