Parks systems not resting on success of 2017

Northeast Ohio metro and district parks in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties say 2017 was a successful year, but the park systems vow 2018 could be even better for visitors.

Cleveland Metroparks — the oldest park district in Ohio — enjoyed a large visitation volume in 2017, and its CEO Brian Zimmerman was not surprised.

Cleveland Metroparks’ centennial marked a year of substantial investment, with several capital projects completed or started in 2017.

Park officials say about 18 million people visit a year, and more than 600,000 attend education programs.

For 2017, Cleveland Metroparks focused on improvement projects, especially in key areas like the A.B. Williams Park Memorial Woods, which is located in North Chagrin Reservation in Mayfield Village, Willoughby Hills and Gates Mills.

Restoration of the district’s Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial at the Rocky River Reservation also was completed this year.

The 30-foot cinder block and sandstone tower memorial originally was dedicated in 1958 in honor of the first two directors of Cleveland Metroparks, William Stinchcomb and Harold Groth, who were responsible for establishing 18,000 acres of parkland and 84 miles of parkway.

Other projects included Euclid Beach Pier, Brecksville Trailside Program Center, Coast Guard Station Restoration and the second phase of its Seneca Golf Course in Broadview Heights.

Lorain County Metro Parks also reports it had a good year.

During the Dec. 21 Lorain County Metro Parks board meeting, commissioners announced the expansion of numerous trails and construction of bridges.

Commissioners also accepted donations of property from longtime Metro Parks collaborator Lori B. Campana and Amherst resident Marilyn A. Jenne, to increase the growth of the parks system.

Jim Ziemnik, director of the Lorain County Metro Parks, said the 2.79 acres of property donated from Campana will become part of the Hollstein Reservation in Amherst.

The 10.81 acres Jenne donated will be called BUDMAR Farms Reservation.

Other Lorain County Metro Parks news include the Black River Trail Extension project, which will be funded through a grant it received from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, also known as NOACA.

The Lorain County Metro Parks will receive more than $2.5 million to complete the Trail Extension connection to Lake Erie as well as the construction of a multiuse bridge across the Black River in Cascade Park and into Elywood Park. Called the Phase 3C project of the bikeway trail, crews will complete it in the next five or six years.

On the other side of town, the Geauga Park District is beaming from the success of the August opening of the Nassau Astronomical Station at Observatory Park in Montville Township which drew thousands of visitors to the park system securing first place in the Award of Excellence from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association in the Capital Improvement Project Category — $1 Million to $2.5 Million.

The district will receive the Parks and Recreation Association award Jan. 30 in Sandusky.

Adding to an already good year, in mid-November, the Geauga Park District received $1.1 million in grants for the protection, conservation and restoration of Geauga County water resources.

Of the funds, $260,765 will go toward the Griswold Creek Watershed (Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Park) to help mitigate flooding and erosion issues downstream, and to Beaver Creek watershed (Bass Lake Preserve) to improve water quality and wildlife habitat.

The rest of the funds, $842,840 will be used for Beaver Creek Stream/Wetland restoration.

Lake Metroparks also had a successful 2017 with the May debut of its sprawling, all-natural, child-friendly outdoor play area, Nature Play, at Penitentiary Glen Reservation.

In October, Lake Metroparks also unveiled its 200foot pier at Painesville Township Park.

And there was a third project: new stairs constructed at Lake Erie Bluffs in Perry Township.

Lake Metroparks Executive Director Paul Palagyi said the three projects, in addition to last year’s 50-foot Observation Tower at Lake Erie Bluffs, and other popular annual events and programming, helped Lake Metroparks visitation increase by 3.37 percent over the same time period last year.

That equates to 114,000 additional visitors and an overall total of 3.5 million visitors.

2018 already is shaping up to be a good year for countyrun parks across Northeast Ohio.

It appears taxpayers are getting their money’s worth.