Tales and Trails
With Brian Zimmerman
Tales and Trails, a podcast hosted by Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman, goes behind-the-scenes on wide-ranging topics from wildlife and animal care, scenic destinations and hidden gems, upcoming projects and more. Premiering the first Monday of each month, episodes will feature Brian accompanied by special guests across the Park District's award-winning team as well as key community partners and leaders in Northeast Ohio.
Latest Episode
A shopping center, a golf course and a landfill were some of the proposed or former uses for the scenic natural landscapes and waterways that make up West Creek Reservation. Hear from Derek Schafer, Executive Director of West Creek Conservancy, on how Cleveland Metroparks 16th park reservation came to be and where it’s headed.
Derek has been with West Creek Conservancy since 2004 and has served as the Executive Director since 2013. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy and Analysis with a specialization in Natural Resource Management from Bowling Green State University. Derek leads West Creek Conservancy’s mission to protect land and water resources, implement park, trail development as well as habitat restoration initiatives and strategic watershed planning. Derek believes strongly in partnerships and regional collaboration enabling effective use of resources; progress thru partnerships. Within the West Creek team, Derek is responsible for real estate negotiations and related transactions; habitat restoration planning and implementation; park, trail and Greenway development; community/regional partnerships; grant/foundation development and respective management and implementation.
Upcoming Episodes
- Monday, September 1
- Monday, October 6
Previous Episodes
- Episode 10: "Park Secrets & Founding Stories: A Century of Cleveland Metroparks" with Judy MacKeigan
- Episode 9: "Pushing Limits, Making Waves: Katie Spotz’s Journey for Clean Water" with Katie Spotz
- Episode 8: "Kickin’ it with Kenny in the Parks!" with Kenny Crumpton
- Episode 7: "Pints & Parks: Brewing Partnerships with Purpose" with Matt Cole
- Bonus Episode: "The Art of Trail (Part 2)" with Jackson Wolf
- Episode 6: "The Art of Trail" with Jim Rodstrom
- Episode 5: "Parks to Prosperity: Building Northeast Ohio through Outdoor Tourism" with David Gilbert
- Episode 4: "Activating Cleveland’s Lakefront" with Commissioner Dan Moore
- Episode 3: "The Future Zoo" with Dr. Chris Kuhar
- Episode 2: "Everything Trails" with Mary Cierebiej and Mayor Eddy Kraus
- Episode 1: “How it Started, How it’s Going: Building an Emerald Necklace” with Commissioner Bruce Rinker