The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
FLOODED LOTS TO BE WETLANDS
Geneva, Headlands state parks to get updated signs, manager says
Gary Gerrone, manager of both Geneva State Park and Headlands Beach State Park, recently gave a virtual presentation about the highlights of both parks and the updates that are in store for them.
Headlands Beach State Park, located in Mentor and Painesville Township, boasts the longest natural beach in Ohio, and attracts plenty of locals for swimming and sunbathing in the summer. According to Gerrone, it is also a hotspot for birdwatchers.
Gerrone noted in the presentation that flooding near the parking lots and roadways recently has become quite an issue at Headlands, and while some of the water can run off into natural areas, there areas near the western side of the park that present other concerns.
He explained that in these areas, they believe the ground is now below lake level, so the ground water is actually exposing itself above the surface and causing consistent flooding in the adjacent parking lots.
Since many animals, like herons and spring peeper frogs, seem to already have made a home in these wet areas near the roadways, Gerrone said that the department is
“We actually wish to turn it into its own dedicated wetland. If mother nature wants it to be a wetland, it’s too time-consuming and costly for us to say otherwise." —Gary Gerrone, Geneva State Park and Headlands Beach State Park manager
going to let nature take its course.
“We actually wish to turn it into its own dedicated wetland. If mother nature wants it to be a wetland, it’s too timeconsuming and costly for us to say otherwise,” he said.
“And so through the acquisition of a GLRI (Great Lakes Restoration Initiative) grant that we just acquired, we will this season be turning our flooded parking lots into a true wetland,” he added. “It’s an exciting project. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Additionally, Gerrone said they plan to update the outdated manual entrance gate to the park to one that is automated and programmable which will allow them to secure the park at night in an easier fashion. He said a new gate will also enhance the curb appeal.
Headlands Beach is located right next to Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, and visitors can access both places through the same entrance. However, the current signage only reflects Headlands Beach.
Gerrone said they plan to install a new sign that will mention the nature preserve as well to cut down on confusion.
Other signage throughout the park will also get a new look.
“What we’re going to be doing is a mixture of reducing the signs, making them make sense, and making them look good,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gerrone said that Geneva State Park will be seeing a new playground in the coming weeks located in the campground area.
He said construction is currently set to begin April 5.
“This’ll be a new portion of our campground at Geneva State Park,” he said, “And it’s a very exciting structure. I think everybody will look forward to that.”
Gerrone added that they also recently won a grant with the assistance of The Nature Conservancy that will allow them to put forth an effort to attack phragmites, an invasive non-native species of reed, in some of Geneva State Park’s wetlands areas to help out local plants and wildlife.
Just like at Headlands Beach, Geneva will also be seeing plenty of updated signage.
Gerrone explained that the park’s staff will be shifting around office locations, the current camp office will soon double as the main park office, while watercraft and administrative assignment staff will stay in the building that is currently the park office.
He said the new signage will reflect those changes, and visitors should have a straightforward experience navigating through the park.