FirstEnergy Foundation awards $27,000 grant to Western Reserve Land Conservancy

The FirstEnergy Foundation has granted $27,000 to the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to benefit a conservation project at Chagrin River Landing in Eastlake.

The Foundation’s grant this week is the last essential piece in a campaign to raise funds, which will help the Land Conservancy meet the project’s total goal of $386,000, according to a news release.

Work on the project is expected to begin this fall, though there may be a delay amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

However, upon completion, the 10-acre property and former marina located on Lake Shore Boulevard will be turned into a public access park for handicap accessible fishing, canoeing and kayaking to the Chagrin River and Lake Erie.

The Chagrin River runs through the park, located in the communities of Willoughby and Eastlake.

Since March, many Lake Metroparks and other outdoor recreation sites have seen a skyrocketing in the number of visitors.

“Many parks nationwide have seen a spike up in visitation,” Metroparks Executive Director Paul Palagyi said in a June article. “The parks themselves, parking lots, trails, have not only been open, but they’ve been swamped.

“We’ve seen over 250,000 more visits in March, April and May of this year than we’ve seen in previous years.”

As part of the project, the City of Eastlake will demolish the existing house on-site, remove more than 20 vacant boats from the property, and work with conservation partners, including the Land Conservancy and Chagrin River Watershed Partners, to restore the boatyard back to natural floodplain habitat.

The city will also work with conservation partners to clean up the property, plant trees, establish a habitat for pollinators through native plantings, and remove invasive species.

They are focused on finding conscientious ways to restore the land to its once pristine nature. “FirstEnergy Foundation is proud to support the Land Conservancy’s effort to restore this area into a beautiful and functional space for the community,” said Lorna Wisham, president of the foundation. “In addition to providing new recreational opportunities for area residents and visitors, the park aligns with the electric industry’s goal of creating habitats that promote pollinators and support the environment.”