A National Archives photo from the Federal Writers’ Project shows Mahoning Valley children wading at the Lake Glacier spillway, part of the New Deal’s documentation of American places.
The Federal Writers’ Project employed about 4,500 writers to produce state travel guides during the Works Progress Administration era (1935–1943).
The spillway is located between Price Road and East Lake Glacier Drive in the north end of Mill Creek Park.
# What the photograph shows
A May 1940 photograph in the National Archives depicts a group of Mahoning Valley youth standing ankle-deep in water at the Lake Glacier North End Spillway in Mill Creek Park. The accompanying caption reads: "Glacier Falls, in Mill Creek Park is a popular recreational center." The photo was created by an unnamed photographer working for the Federal Writers' Project.
# Location and directions
Park, between Price Road and East Lake Glacier Drive. Price Road connects Weaver Road to Fellows Riverside Gardens. The Metro Monthly piece includes a satellite map reference and a short "Get Directions" note for readers who want to visit the spillway today.
# Why the photo matters locally
The image documents everyday life and recreation in the Mahoning Valley on the brink of America's World War II mobilization era. It also records a public landscape developed and maintained through earlier park efforts that continue to shape local outdoor spaces. The photograph provides a local visual record that complements textual descriptions in The American Guide and preserves an instance of community use of Mill Creek Park in 1940.
# How it was published
Metro Monthly published the image and short piece on September 26, 2026. The story credits Mark C. Peyko, the magazine's editor and publisher, and notes the National Archives as the source of the image. The post links readers to further information about The American Guide.
# What readers can do next
If you want to see the spillway: use the Price Road and East Lake Glacier Drive landmarks to locate the north end of Mill Creek Park. To explore the photograph's archival context: consult The American Guide holdings at the National Archives, which include additional Federal Writers' Project photographs and material produced for state travel guides.
# Short takeaway
This National Archives photograph offers a concrete snapshot of recreational life in Mill Creek Park in May 1940 and ties that local scene to the broader Federal Writers' Project work under the WPA.
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