Community input sought for park development

Ever wanted to create your own park?

Mentor residents will have the chance to help do just that this week at a “town hall”-style meeting.

The forum is 6:30 to 8 p.m. July 27 at Mentor Senior Center, 8484 Munson Road, and will allow citizens to provide ideas on developing the old Springbrook Gardens property on Heisley Road into a public park.

Along with community input, the discussion — hosted by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department — will include a history of the property acquisition,

how the current plan was developed, the timeline and phases. The information also will be on display at CityFest Aug. 26-27.

“Mentor residents are encouraged to come and give their opinions on what they would like to see included in the park layout and also suggest a name for this new park,” said Ward 1 City Councilman Sean Blake. “This is an exciting time — a completely new, start-from-scratch park that can be planned to include components that will appeal to all residents in all age groups. I feel that this will be a very popular park with our residents, of the caliber of Mentor’s existing parks.”

Construction would occur no sooner than 2017, officials have said.

Some potential development options were reviewed by Council’s Open Space Committee and the administration in February.

The renderings presented ranged from a passive park to more intensive recreational uses, such as a BMX bicycle feature. Commonalities in the concepts include an expanded lake with a fountain, walking trails totaling 1.7 miles, a pavilion and restroom, some open playing fields and sports courts, parking area, a tree farm, a large detention pond at the center, and buffering between homes and the site. There was discussion of using the greenhouses for educational purposes, such as allowing high school students to grow grapes to be pressed by a local winery.

The city purchased the 53acre property at 6842 Heisley Road for $2.5 million in 2014. Springbrook Gardens belonged to the Schultz family for more than 100 years. It was among the last large pieces of undeveloped privately own parcels in Mentor.

“This is a great opportunity to add a signature park,” Parks & Recreation Director Kenn Kaminski said. “This could leave a great legacy for all the neighborhood and the city.”

For more information or to submit input without attending, contact the city at 440-974-5722 or parks@ cityofmentor.com.

SUBMITTED This is among the park design concepts proposed for the former Springbrook Gardens off of Heisley Road.