With an idea conceived on a bike ride through the park, Rocky Ridge Neighbors began collaborating with Mill Creek MetroParks in 2012 to tap the trees in the Charles S. Robinson Maple Grove, which is located to the west of the Wick Recreation Area. The grove, named after a former Mill Creek Park commissioner, was planted in 1951.

This signature initiative includes the tapping of the trees, processing the syrup, bottling, selling, and distributing the proceeds to the park and other projects that benefit the surrounding community.

Mill Creek Maple Syrup helped Rocky Ridge contribute to the Julianna Kurinka Children’s Play Area, Mill Creek Junior Baseball and the West Side Library, now known as the Michael Kusalaba Library Our Neighbors hope to add more causes to this list as the project continues!

Our Neighbors unveiled the Rocky Ridge Sugar House in 2014. Located in the grove, the site houses all syrup production, except the final bottling process.

Mill Creek Maple Syrup is a project that the Rocky Ridge Neighbors take great pride in. It’s a great way to promote community involvement with various ways to learn and volunteer—tapping, cooking, bottling, and packaging. Over the last decade, this project has yielded on average 450-500 bottles per season to sell. However, each year is different, depending on Mother Nature’s winter temperatures and the age, growth, and condition of the maple trees. Many new trees have been planted by Mill Creek MetroParks to replenish the grove but take approximately 20+ years to grow into sap-yielding soldiers!

Syrup collection usually occurs during February and March and is later sold in the spring at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Rocky Ridge Neighbors would like to thank all the donors and partners—especially St. Patrick Catholic Church in Youngstown for the use of its commercial kitchen—who have made Mill Creek Maple Syrup possible!

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