Metro Parks right to educate public on plan

Lorain County Metro Parks administrators unveiling their expansion plans for the next 10 years shows their commitment to make the park district one of the best in Ohio, if not the country. Metro Parks leaders met with the media July 17 to release the new strategic plan called “Preserve. Conserve. Explore.,” which will span from 2024-2034.

Lorain County Metro Parks Director James Ziemnik met with the community July 18 at Sunset Terrace at Lakeview Park in Lorain to discuss and view the plan which calls for preserving the county’s green space, educating and promoting healthy communities, sustaining clean and safe parks, recruiting and retaining highquality employees and improving public access to natural resources, including Lake Erie.

This proposal has a unique focus on preservation of the existing Metro Parks land as well as looking into future acquisitions.

In 2022, Lorain County Metro Parks welcomed nearly four million visitors.

The park district boasts 38 diverse properties with more than 11,000 acres and more than 145 miles of trails.

So, it has a lot to offer. But, over the past year, the Metro Parks conducted a survey asking the public what they wanted to see prioritized by the park district in the future.

An overwhelming number of responses from residents say they want to see the Metro Parks acquire more land, add more walking trails around Lorain County and increase lakefront access.

So, the Metro Parks looked back on projects, particularly when it comes to preservation and conservation within the area, and created a plan they believe is exciting.

Some of the plans unveiled to the public include 10 new projects to help expand the Metro Parks from connecting lines between parks to new parcels of land or phase two projects.

One of the plans is to continue work on the Cassell Reservation in Vermilion by adding a trail along the spine of the main trail thanks to a 29acre donation.

Other future projects include development of Sandy Ridge West, west of Sandy Ridge Reservation in North Ridgeville, Avon Wetlands extension, Michael Locust Field on Jaeger Road across from Kohls in Lorain, and Dorlon Reservation, a former golf course, located south of the present Columbia Reservation in Columbia Station.

Finally the Metro Parks plans to deliver on the request for more trails by adding a French Creek greenway connecting French Creek, Miller Nature Reserve and Avon Wetlands as well as a Pony Trail of Lorain trail following the old quarry line from Cooper Foster Park Road to West Erie Avenue and a Grafton Royal Oaks connecting bridge.

Ziemnik added that these projects are just the start of a great expansion.

Currently, the Metro Parks operate in today’s economy based on tax dollars it started receiving in 2005.

Tax levy income makes up about 70% of the district’s annual operating budget.

So, much, if not all, of the work, will depend on the passage of a replacement levy because the Metro Parks will have a few extra dollars to spend.

The Lorain County Metro Parks’ Board of Commissioners passed a resolution July 20 to put a 1.6-mill replacement levy in front of Lorain County voters on the November ballot.

The commissioners determined that the funds from the levy would allow the park district to accomplish the goals and recommendations outlined in its strategic plan.

If the levy is passed, the Metro Parks vows it will continue to deliver on new parks and trails over the next 10 years as it works to expand its reach.

And, Ziemnik, assured that the cost will be worth it.

It’s up to the people to decide whether to support the levy.

But giving people greater access to the Metro Parks properties is good.

And getting information about the strategic plan out to the masses is a smart move.

An overwhelming number of responses from residents say they want to see the Metro Parks acquire more land, add more walking trails around Lorain County and increase lakefront access.