HOWLAND — The Trumbull County MetroParks will begin 2026 with two new board members.

Trumbull County Probate Judge James Fredericka appointed Robert Ward and Patrick Moro to the park board effective Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2028.

Swearing-in ceremonies for Ward and Moro were held earlier this month.

The two new members replace Steve Maas and Kurt Sauer, whose terms end Wednesday.

Zachary Svette, executive director of the MetroParks, said 2025 was a challenging year with concerns for shortages in funding, but the parks stayed open with money approved by the county commissioners.

The commissioners had approved $65,000 for the MetroParks to remain open.

Completed projects included a new parking area replacing the previous asphalt pavement area at the MetroParks office off North River Road. Svette said a grant covered the costs for the $200,000 project.

The parking lot is used not only for those at the park office but for the nearby community garden areas.

Svette said other work done this past year included the opening of the Baughman Bridge on the bike trail over a creek in Bristol Township. He said that project was covered 100% by a $372,000 Appalachian community grant. The bridge was paved.

Svette said the MetroParks acquired additional properties for hunting, including a 75-acre area on the south side off state Route 5 in Braceville.

In previous years, the MetroParks acquired property off Lyntz Road in Lordstown and a wetland area off state Route 45 in Champion.

He said properties in Kinsman, Lordstown and Braceville are smaller areas with parking areas that are used for hunting.

Svette said that in 2026, he will work with the board to discuss other projects, including the next phase of work on the bike trail off Warren Avenue between Warren and Niles and the removal of the Leavittsburg Dam, which he said will be taken down in the spring.

Park officials have said the purpose of the dam removal project on the Mahoning River includes removing a fish passage barrier on the river, which will enhance biological diversity potential within the area of the dam. The project also will include bank stabilization, which will focus on protecting those areas where slope toe sediments are dredged as well as protecting bank areas where fine-grained sediment is left in place and which may be susceptible to erosion or bank instability.

The Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program is providing $3.2 million for the project.

The board will meet at 4 p.m. Jan. 22 at the park offices.