Facility and grounds are nice and taken care of but another park where leash rules aren't enforced like all the other metro parks (Geauga and Cleveland too). Every time I'm here with my dog we always get at least one random dog running up causing issues. Some times it's one, sometimes it 10+ (there's a group of older people that group hike here regularly with their dogs and they're all off leash). I know rangers can't be everywhere but I don't ever see them anywhere. It's obvious that nobody is worried about getting caught cause it happens at everyone of the Metro Parks in the area. read more

Penitentiary Glen is such a fantastic park for children and adults alike. I love the outdoor playground, indoor nature center, animal rehabilitation area (Sassifras the fox is one of our favorites to visit), and the trails are amazing! This is one of our top places to visit on the east side of Cleveland whenever we are meeting up with other families! read more

I love what they do and the services they offer. From environmental education programs, to summer camps, to wildlife rehabilitation and nature preservation. This place checks all boxes. Beautiful on site trails and nature center along with animals who cannot be released there for severe as ambassador animals. read more

Today we finally came here since we were in the area, and it's totally wonderful. This park is known for its animal rehabilitation center. I know people bring injured wildlife here. You can see in the large wire cages birds that have been or being rehabbed. Mammals and reptiles are also brought here. Some animals will be released back into the wild. Others will be used for educational purposes. There is also an interactive nature center, and a store of cool items. The park has 8.5 miles of walking trails and some picnic areas. In 1912 the acreage had been owned by the Halle family of the Halle Bros. Department store in Cleveland. Only the horse barn remains of that era. In the winter snow shoes can be rented for a few dollars. This was a neat place, and feels special. read more

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Beautiful park with lots of trails for walking and special events, the one downside though is that you have to pay whenever you go there. Overall 8/10 (4.0 stars) just because you have to pay whenever the time of year. (my review from Google Maps) read more

A very nice medium sized park in Kirtland. The park provides a variety of activities, with some varied terrain for hiking: forests, fields, ponds, a marsh and a small gorge. There are several easier trails and one more difficult trail that takes you down and up the gorge. There is also a nature play area, a nature center and a wildlife rescue area. Always cool to check out the birds and animals on display that are recovering from various injuries. Well worth a visit. read more

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Great place! Great paved towpaths. Overlooks. A playground for the kids. Very cute little gift shop. Great nature center. Fun place for the whole family! read more

Penitentiary Glen Reservation - Parks Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

Great place for a winter hike. Clear trail. Amazing sounds and views. Warm fire was a nice way to end the hike. read more

Penitentiary Glen Reservation - Parks Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

I love Penitentiary Glen! It's a great place for kids and adults alike. The wildlife rehabilitation area gives you an up-close look at various woodland creatures as they are nursed back to health--I was able to see a variety of birds during my visit, including a "teenage" bald eagle! The displays inside the wildlife center are interesting, and I got a kick out of trying to spot the queen in their bee colony. I also recommend birdwatching from one of the indoor rocking chairs; it's an excellent way to rest up after a long day of hiking! Speaking of hiking, the park hosts a plethora of trails, which are well-maintained and lovely. The trails aren't particularly difficult to traverse (though some can be lengthy), perfect for a leisurely stroll or the occasional runner. And if you have little ones, definitely make a point to visit when the mini railroad is in operation. Riding a tiny locomotive through the park remains a cherished childhood memory of mine, and it's something that I think most kids would get a kick out of. I believe the park also hosts a variety of other events as well, from art shows to stargazing parties. Truly, there's something for everyone at Penitentiary Glen! read more

Penitentiary Glen Reservation - Tracks for the mini trains. - Parks Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

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We went here for train day. Took my 2 boys to ride on the miniature train. They had about 5 trains running on this miniature track around the park it was about a 3 hour wait but we got here a bit late. After getting off the train we decided to go look at the animals.this place is a shelter for wounded or maimed wild animals so they have a bunch of hawks, eagles and falcons as well as ducks and a red fox. Kids enjoyed the walk through I got to see a live display of a bees nest behind see through plastic which was neat to watch them work. read more

Nice walking paths. During daylight hours, you can see animals in for rehabilitation and permanent residents. On the weekends, they have miniature train rides for all. read more

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What a gorgeous place. Lovely park and animal preserve. They have events and special train rides all year long. Fabulous spot for a picnic or a dog walk on the trails. Their addition of PLAY is FANTASTIC! So PLAY. Quiet. Serene in some parts...and then my kids come in...lol. This set up for parents with young kids like myself is just what I have been looking for. In all honesty my kids are a little too young to get it (18 month boys) but if they were a year older it would be their favorite place on the planet! Sandbox, wooden stump wheel, hills to run up and down on, they love the log cabin and yurt- but they don't get that the "no wading" means so running into the water they see...hoping this stays around so soon I can not get soaking wet trying to force them to play and enjoy it as I know how special it is. read more

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Excellent park part of Lake Metroparks in southern Lake County that offers well-maintained trails, grounds, picnic areas and shelters. There is also a nature center good for kids and a wildlife center that rehabilitates animals hurt by humans (e.g. vehicular strikes, attacks by pets). Trails are wide, well-maintained and constructed, popular with trail runners. Snowshoeing is popular here in winter months. There's even a little kiddie railroad run by a local rail enthusiast group. Today, we were here to tender a poor baby groundhog our beagle got a hold of in our backyard but didn't quite kill. The weak animal survived the night so we brought him here to the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center. The intake staff were very kind and professional, accepting the little guy with a short interview process. They even gave us an ID code so that we may track his recovery process. We know he's in safe hands and if he has any chance of survival it'll be here. NOTE: They don't rescue all animals due to state laws prohibiting intake of deer, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and muted swans. But they do a great job rehabilitating squirrels, rabbits, and birds releasing those who aren't human-imprinted back into the wild. A truly noble cause in a world where wildlife continues to bear the brunt of continued human expansion. read more

Penitentiary Glen Reservation - Gorge Rim Loop Trail - Parks Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

-Dog friendly with leash -Bike friendly -Cold water from the drinking fountain -Bring bug spray Impressive little public park. The wildlife rehabilitation area was well-maintained and every animal had an info sign, admirable work. read more

Penitentiary Glen Reservation - Parks Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

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My mother and I found a sickly looking bird along the side of the road today. We came back a few hours later and found it still lying in the road, so we decided to take him out of the road. We fed it, gave it water, and decided it would be best if we took it to penitentiary Glen. When we arrived at the Penitentiary, we were told by the woman at the front desk that it was an invasive species. Instead of simply refusing to care for the animal and allowing us to leave with the it to find an alternate solution to helping it. She grabbed the box and told us that they were going to perform a "check up" on the animal as she was walking to the staff door. A few minutes later she came back out and told us that the bird was currently being put down. We told her to go back inside and stop the procedure, another few minutes passed when the woman finally came back out and said that the bird was put down. The Penitentiary had no right to make the decision to put that bird down before consulting us, nor did the woman have any right to lie to us about it receiving a "check up" when in actuality they were just going to euthanize the animal. We will never return to Penitentiary Glen nor will we ever take another animal there that is in need of help, we will take it somewhere else that might be a little more honest with us instead. read more