Trees to treasures
Lindsay Smith, Chief of Marketing & Communications
If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have enjoyed a stop inside the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm Visitors Center or attended a private event at a lodge nestled within our scenic Metro Parks, you may have noticed beautiful and unique furniture and amenities made in-house from wood.
Your park district is fueled by professionals from many backgrounds, with many talents — most of which serve the public each day in less publicly visible ways than Park Carpenter Tony Morgan. Using special equipment and sustainable materials, Morgan creates the signs you see when you enter and navigate Summit Metro Parks — our portal entry signs, trail markers and more. He is also a talented woodworker and furniture craftsman. Over the years as park carpenter, Morgan has lent his talents to several special projects that enhance our visitors’ experience and create exceptional quality items that will be enjoyed by generations to come.
When asked about his favorite project over the years, Morgan reflected: “There are so many projects I’ve been a part of here; I’m very proud of all of them. A few at the top of my list are the conference room table at [headquarters] and the wall cabinet for the executive director’s office.”
Tony Morgan joined Summit Metro Parks in 2003 as a park technician I. Since then, he’s held several positions in the operations department until 2016 when he was hired into his current role. He’s been working with wood for nearly 16 years, setting up his own shop after renewed motivation from personal memories and admiration for the quality craftsmanship of Amish-made furniture.
For others aspiring to take the next step in transforming trees to treasures, Morgan shared this advice: “First and foremost, don’t ever be afraid to challenge yourself. Find inspiration in whoever and whatever it might be. If you find satisfaction (mentally or physically) in creating things, wood is a beautiful way to display it.”
From custom tables to unique displays, chances are you have seen one of Morgan’s pieces around the Metro Parks. Reflecting on his work, Morgan added: “I think inside every one of us, we want to leave some mark on the world, whether it’s with family or by inspiring people. For me, a part of my mark is dedicated to Summit Metro Parks. I hope the pieces that I built here will stand the test of time and will be remembered.”
For more stories like this, check out Green Islands magazine, a bi-monthly publication from Summit Metro Parks. Summit County residents can sign up to receive the publication at home free of charge.
