Section of Cascade Park to open July 29

Lorain County Metro Parks will open a portion of Elyria’s Cascade Park in July.

The news comes after about a year of construction and improvements at Cascade Park.

Elyria Rotary Club and the city of Elyria will hold a ribbon-cutting at 2 p.m., July 29, to celebrate Cascade Park’s new inclusive playground, according to Jim Ziemnik, director of Lorain County Metro Parks.

However, the 135-acre park only will be open to an existing building because of ongoing construction.

“The park is very close to completion,” Ziemnik said June 21 during the monthly Metro Parks board meeting.

Crews will lay down a rubber mat for the new playground and place picket fences near the river before the ribbon-cutting.

Rotary Club members put a lot of effort into the playground, Ziemnik said.

The Rotary Club donated nearly $360,000 toward the playground, he said.

“It’s been a wonderful relationship,” Ziemnik said referring to the work the Rotary Club has performed at Cascade Park.

Ziemnik said there is a phase called 4C that is moving along.

Phase 4C is a trail that comes down from the renovated “19 Acres” portion of the Cascade Park and connects to Elywood Park, he said.

Phase 4E will include work on the bridge to connect Cascade to Elywood.

As these projects are under construction, trails will also be restored as well as the replacement of some shrubbery.

Work on Cascade Park should be finished near the end of 2020, Ziemnik said.

Metro Parks sill will accept donations of trees and fences for Cascade Park, he said.

Mayor Holly Brinda will look to hold fundraisers to bring more interaction and entertainment to Cascade Park, Ziemnik said.

In other news, the roof at Splash Zone recreation and aquatic center in Oberlin will be completely replaced during the spring and summer months of 2019.

Ziemnik said after 16 years since the center was built, indoor humidity is contributing the roof’s poor condition.

The facility will close its indoor Olympic-sized pool while the roof is under construction, he said.

The indoor pool is not used as much as the outdoor aquatic equipment during the summer, Ziemnik said.

The new and updated roof will be longer lasting and built to avoid similar humidity issues.