City awarded stream enhancement grant

Plans for park include offering fishing, education opportunities

The city of Mentor will receive funding help to improve a water feature at Springbrook Gardens Park.

City Council recently authorized an agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for a stream and wetland restoration project there.

“We’re really excited about this,” City Manager Ken Filipiak said, adding that the project will be part of upcoming budget discussions.

“Essentially the stream that runs through Springbrook park is a man-made stream. It would be our intention over time to enhance that by creating some wetland areas to promote fishing and other type of educational experiences, and just to enhance the overall experience at the new park.”

The Ohio EPA provides financial assistance to political subdivisions for capital improvements to public infrastructure and projects that assist in open space and habitat restoration.

The EPA will funnel $264,136 in federal funding toward the work. The total cost is $440,227.

The project is anticipated in 2019.

Other improvements at the park, at 6842 Heisley Road, include adding a roadway and parking areas with 276 spaces, 1.7 miles of asphalt walking paths, stream culverts, pond and ditch enhancements, utilities for future restrooms and a boardwalk along the pond. Picnic areas and a tree farm are planned as well.

Meanwhile, Mentor officials have yet to determine an opening date for the park, which had been planned this month. Weather and the need to replace a subcontractor led to delays completing

construction.

The 50-acre site adds to the city’s 1,200 acres of protected parkland. It was named in honor of the former nursery on the site. Springbrook Gardens belonged to the Schultz family for more than 100 years and was among the last large pieces of undeveloped, privately owned parcels in Mentor when it was sold to the city in 2014 for $2.5 million. In 2016, another $335,000 was spent to purchase more land, including a century home.