Campsite awaits council approval

Lake Metroparks is seeking to install a single “primitive” campsite at its Lakeshore Reservation property in North Perry Village.

But now, as an asphalt trail already has been laid, the park system needs approval to move forward, according to Village Council, who, along with multiple residents, have raised questions regarding the campsite’s potential existence.

Paul Palagyi, executive director of Lake Metroparks, spoke to both council and residents Dec. 7 during a regular meeting, addressing concerns and questions primarily centered on the possibility of disturbance and density in the residential area.

Installation, if approved, would begin in the spring and take two days, with no structure, shelter or other amenities added to the 84-acre park at 4799 Lockwood Drive.

“We would remove brush and create a clearing of about 100 feet in the middle of the park with equal distance from the east, west and south borders,” Palagyi said during his presentation. “We want to get it as center and as far from property lines as we can. The campsite would only feature a stone fire ring, a bench and a rack for wood.

“About six year ago, we started looking at all of our properties to see how we could increase the public access to publicly owned property. Over the years, we’ve had a lot of interest from visitors for small family camping. Back in 2013-2014, we developed the first set of campsites. There are now seven parks with eight campsites spread across the park district.”

Lake Metroparks carefully considered where each site would be installed, adhering to strict regulations to what each site was and wasn’t to

be.

“We didn’t want car camping and Kampgrounds of America-style hookups, with electricity and large groups,” Palagyi said. “These camps are very small and isolated.”

Anyone reserving a site must be 21 or older, and are required to register online or by phone to camp at any of Lake Metroparks’ sites. A permit must be displayed in campers’ vehicles so park rangers can identify who is visiting the location. No mechanical devices, for example, a generator, may be brought to the campsites.

Most of the sites, including the planned Lakeshore Reservation site, include a drive toward the campsite with a gate and padlock code issued with the permit. Cars are parked back from the actual site. Camping is available May through November, with the exception of Girdled Road Reservation.

“Last year, we had about 655 reservations across the parks,” Palagyi said, “and we’ve had no real issues regarding disturbances. The campsite at Lakeshore Reservation will not include multiple campsites. And all reservations must be fulfilled at other sites before additional reservations can be booked.”

Stipulations for Lakeshore Reservation would also include:

• No more than two vehicles.

• No more than eight people.

• No more than two tents. A $10 fee for in-county residents and $20 fee for out-of-county residents will apply, with a three-day maximum. The fee applies to each night.

Councilman Ken Siegel asked Palagyi why, with 38 parks in the system, Lakeshore Reservation was chosen.

“Lakeshore Reservation sits on about 2,700 feet of Lake Erie shoreline, a key factor in it being selected,” Palagyi said. “The installation aims to provide a camping experience for a family or couple to have a quiet evening overnight in the park system. Other than Lake Erie Bluffs, which has a very long stretch of shoreline overlooking the lake, none of the parks has this feature. We also didn’t want to have the campsites with an overview so close together.

“Lake Reservation is our 12th largest park. With 1.8 miles of trails, a lot of people use our sites as an opportunity to practice for a bigger camping experience, like Yellowstone (National Park).”

While council made no decision at the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Ed Klco lauded the registration process mandatory to campers.

“When that park is open, we have a lot of people driving through here all the time,” he said. “We have no idea who they are. With this, we’d know who was camping.”

Sometime between now and April, council will make a decision on Lake Metroparks’ proposed campsite.