Pat Rydquist was an Interpretive Naturalist with Summit Metro Parks for 20 years. While there she shared her passion for birding, butterflies, moths, and encouraging preschoolers to love all things in nature. Her favorite mentor was Bert Szabo who she got to know through SMP. On her walks with Bert he talked about the trees he planted at Goodyear Heights Metro Park, the amazing birding at Firestone Metro Park, and the cultural significance of Deep Lock Quarry. She was also president of the Hudson Land Conservancy and helped merge it into the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
Now retired, Pat’s new passion is arachnids, maybe because they don’t fly away or maybe because they are so intricately vital in our ecosystem! To dig deeper into the web of spiders she attended an Ohio Sea Grant Conference on Gibraltar Island in Lake Erie last summer with Dr. Rich Bradley, author and renowned spider specialist at the Ohio State University. Pat will share the life and value of spiders in the hopes others will appreciate their beauty and worth.
Bert Szabo and His Legacy
Bert was appointed the first chief naturalist at the Akron Metropolitan Park District, precursor to Summit Metro Parks, in 1963. He helped get the first Fall Hiking Spree started in 1964 and connected people to the parks for over 30 years, as a naturalist and as an engaged volunteer. He was instrumental in getting the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (later designated as a National Park in 2000) established in 1974. Bert ended his career in 1991 and we honor his legacy.
Program is free and open to the public.