Cleveland Metroparks

[[Image:Cleveland Metroparks logo.png|right|300px]] '''Cleveland Metroparks''' is an extensive system of [[nature preserve]]s in [[Greater Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]. The various reservations, which largely encircle the city of [[Cleveland]], tend to follow the rivers and creeks that flow through the region. Referred to unofficially as the 'Emerald Necklace', the network of parks spans across 21,000+ acres (89 km²) and includes hundreds of miles of walking, bicycle, and horse trails as well as numerous picnic areas, five nature education centers, eight [[golf course]]s, and countless fishing spots. In addition, the district includes the [[Cleveland Metroparks Zoo|zoo]] in Cleveland. Several of the reservations are adjacent to [[Cuyahoga Valley National Park]]. While the majority of the reservations are in the [[suburb]]s of [[Cuyahoga County]], Brookside Reservation is located within the city of Cleveland. Additionally, three of the reservations are either partially or entirely situated outside Cuyahoga County: a portion of North Chagrin Reservation is in [[Lake County, Ohio|Lake County]]; a small portion of Bradley Woods Reservation is in Lorain County; the Hinckley Reservation is in [[Hinckley Township, Medina County, Ohio|Hinckley Township]] in [[Medina County, Ohio|Medina County]]. ==History== '''''The importance of conserving our natural resources is now well recognized. Cannot it be truly said that these natural wild beautiful valleys and glens which lie adjacent to our rapidly growing urban centers are a kind of 'natural resource' of ever increasing value to the public?''''' - William A. Stinchcomb, (speaking to the Cleveland City Council in 1909) The genesis of the Cleveland Metropolitan Park System began with a vision by William Albert Stinchcomb in the early 20th century. A self-taught engineer working as a surveyor for the City of Cleveland in 1895, Stinchcomb was appointed chief engineer of the City Parks Department by Mayor [[Tom L. Johnson|Tom Johnson]] in 1902, and shortly thereafter began to conceptualize an Emerald Necklace for the city. Stinchcomb lobbied the Ohio legislature to amend the state constitution so as to permit the authorization of natural resource conservation at the county level in 1913. However, the Ohio Supreme Court overturned Cuyahoga County's new park law unconstitutional. Unflappable in his pursuit, Stinchcomb then went back to [[Ohio General Assembly|Columbus]] lobbying for new legislation allowing for the establishment of what was to become the Metropolitan Park District, which is today the oldest metropolitan park district in Ohio. In 1915, Stinchcomb received the break that would finally launch his ambitious goal. While serving as [[Cuyahoga County]] engineer, he was approached by city council and offered an appointment to be a consulting engineer on what was eventually to become the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District board—the same board he'd lobbied for two years prior. Stinchcomb accepted and, at the urging of city council, immediately hired the renowned landscape architectural firm, the [[Olmsted Brothers]]. The group immediately went to work drawing up plans for a system of connecting parks as well as the acquisition of land and resources. The proposed Cuyahoga County Park and Boulevard System, which included a parkway encircling the Cleveland area, following various creeks and rivers in the area, was the framework of what would become the Metroparks system today. Stinchcomb returned to the Statehouse in 1917, this time as an officer of the newly formed Metropolitan Park District board, and proposed a bill that would authorize the Metropolitan Park District board to levy a .1 [[Mill (currency)|mill]] tax to fund the district's operations. This was followed shortly after by the authorization of a second .1 mill tax to fund of property acquisition By 1921, the fledgling Park District had acquired the land that would become the Rocky River and Big Creek reservations, most of which was donated. Between 1920 and 1930, the system grew through the investment of capital from its tax levies. Purchased at the cost of approximately $4 million, land for the Hinckley, Brecksville, Bedford, South Chagrin, North Chagrin and Euclid Creek reservations increased the district's holdings from just over 100 acres to more than 9,000 within the span of a decade. ==The Metroparks Today== With free admission and virtually unlimited access during daylight hours, the Metroparks 21,000+ acres are a widely popular destination for hikers, cyclists, boaters and fishermen and nature enthusiasts. A major source of outdoor recreation in the region, official attendance figures recorded 16,855,908 recreational visitors to the system's 16 reservations and the zoo in 2010, making the system one of the most visited attractions in the state of Ohio. Metroparks golf courses, one of the few amenities that do incur a fee, attract over 400,000 golfers annually. With varying amenities, terrains and geographical features, each park is unique. Some amenities, such as the toboggan chutes at Mill Stream Run reservation's Chalet, are found nowhere else in the entire State of Ohio. ==Reservations== {| class=wikitable |- ! Reservation!! Acreage (Hectares)!! Notes!! Park Amenities!!Park Map |- |- | '''Bedford''' ||{{convert|2206|acres|ha}}||Located in [[Bedford, Ohio|Bedford]] and [[Valley View, Ohio|Valley View]], along Tinker's Creek. Features include Shawnee Hills Golf Course and Tinker's Gorge, which has been named a [[National Natural Landmark]].||Trails, cross country skiing, and [[National Audubon Society]]'s Bird Area Program.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Bedford_Reservation.pdf map] |- | '''Big Creek''' ||{{convert|781|acres|ha}}||Located in five Cleveland Suburbs, running from Brookpark Road, near Hauseman Road and [[I-480]], south to Whitney Road and Pearl, below the [[Ohio Turnpike]]/[[I-80]]. Highlights include Lake Isaac and Beyer's Pond wildlife sanctuaries in [[Middleburg Heights, Ohio|Middleburg Hts]].||Trails, cross country skiing, sledding.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Big_Creek.pdf map] |- |'''Bradley Woods'''||{{convert|795|acres|ha}}||located in [[North Olmsted, Ohio|North Olmsted]] and [[Westlake, Ohio|Westlake]] Bradley Woods is situated on what was originally a quarry for [[Berea Sandstone]]. Today, the area has become a forest of [[red maple]]s, [[sour gum]]s, [[tulip tree]]s, [[yellow birch]]es and [[pin oak]]s. || Trails, cross country skiing, fishing.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Bradley_Woods.pdf map] |- |'''Brecksville'''||{{convert|3494|acres|ha}}||Located in [[Brecksville, Ohio|Brecksville]], the reservation includes the Sleepy Hollow Golf Course and seven distinct gorges, of which the Chippewa Creek Gorge is the most notable. The Squire Rich Historical Museum is located on the western edge of the park, managed by the Brecksville Historical Society.||Golf, Hiking and cross country skiing trails, outdoor education facility, sledding, stables, and a National Audubon Society Bird Area Program.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Brecksville.pdf map] |- |'''Brookside'''||{{convert|145|acres|ha}}||Originally a neighborhood park in the [[City of Cleveland]], it became part of the Metroparks in 1993. It is immediately adjacent to fellow Metropark installation, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Brookside hosts numerous baseball and football fields and a wildlife area. Big Creek, the largest tributary of the Cuyahoga River, flows through the northern border of the park.||Trails, cross country skiing.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Brookside.pdf map] |- |'''Cleveland Metroparks Zoo'''||{{convert|165|acres|ha}}||{{Main|Cleveland Metroparks Zoo}}|| Over a million visitors annually, it is Ohio's largest Zoo.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Cleveland_Metroparks_Zoo.pdf map] |- |'''Euclid Creek'''||{{convert|345|acres|ha}}||Located in [[Euclid, Ohio|Euclid]], [[South Euclid, Ohio|South Euclid]] and [[Richmond Heights, Ohio|Richmond Heights]], was originally the site of a massive [[Bluestone]] quarry. Today it is a sanctuary for wildlife and provides a wooded passage from the Heights area down into Euclid.||Trails for hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing and sledding hills.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Euclid_Creek.pdf map] |- |'''Garfield Park'''||{{convert|213|acres|ha}}||Located in [[Garfield Heights, Ohio|Garfield Heights]] it was originally named Newburg Park dating back to 1895. In 1986, it was leased to the Metroparks system and was renamed Garfield Park. It's main feature is Mill Creek||Trails for hiking and cross country skiing, as well as an outdoor education facility.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Garfield_Park.pdf map] |- |'''Hinckley'''||{{convert|2682|acres|ha}}||Located in Hinckley Township in Medina County, the reservation is known for the famous 'Annual Return of the Buzzards' as well as Hinckley Lake and its network of glacial ledges, some of which exceed elevations of 350 feet.||Hiking and cross country skiing trails, boating, swimming, fishing, sledding hills, and National Audubon Society's Bird Area Program.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Hinckley.pdf map] |- |'''Huntington''' ||{{convert|103|acres|ha}}||Located in [[Bay Village, Ohio|Bay Village]] on Lake Erie, Huntington is one of two Metroparks with lakefront access (the other being Rocky River). It is also the location for three Metroparks affiliates: The Lake Erie Nature & Science Center and Schuele Planetarium, the Huntington Playhouse and the BAYarts community art campus.||Hiking and cross country skiing trails, fishing, outdoor education facility, sledding, swimming, and National Audubon Society's Bird Area Program.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Huntington_Reservation.pdf map] |- |'''Mill Stream Run'''||{{convert|3189|acres|ha}}||Added to the system in 1976, this is the largest reservation in the Emerald Necklace. Mill Stream Run is situated along the east branch of the [[Rocky River (Ohio)|Rocky River]] and spanning [[Berea, Ohio|Berea]], [[Middleburg Heights, Ohio|Middleburg Heights]], [[North Royalton, Ohio|North Royalton]] and [[Strongsville, Ohio|Strongsville]], .||Hiking trails, cross country skiing, fishing, outdoor education facility, sledding, toboggan chutes and National Audubon Society's Bird Area Program.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Mill_Stream_Run.pdf map] |- |'''North Chagrin'''|| {{convert|2140|acres|ha}}||Located in [[Mayfield Village, Ohio|Mayfield Village]], [[Gates Mills, Ohio|Gates Mills]] and [[Willoughby Hills, Ohio|Willoughby Hills]], the North Chagrin Reservation straddles Cuyahoga and Lake Counties and like it's smaller neighbor to the south, follows a part of the [[Chagrin River]]. While it is the home to the historic Manakiki Golf Course, the reservation's arguably most notable man-made attraction is [[Squire's Castle]].||Golf, trails, cross country skiing, fishing, golf course, outdoor education facility, sledding, and National Audubon Society's Bird Area Program.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/North_Chagrin.pdf map] |- |'''Ohio & Erie Canal''' ||{{convert|312|acres|ha}}||Opened in 1999 and stretching through [[Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio|Cuyahoga Heights]] and Valley View, the reservation follows a portion of the historic 309-mile [[Ohio and Erie Canal]], as well as a section of the [[Cuyahoga River]]. Observation decks provide a view of myriad wildlife.||Trails, boating, cross country skiing, outdoor education facility, and National Audubon Society's Bird Area Program.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Ohio_&_Erie_Canal_Reservation.pdf map] |- |'''Rocky River'''||{{convert|2572|acres|ha}}||Located in [[Rocky River, Ohio|Rocky River]], [[Berea, Ohio|Berea]], [[Brook Park, Ohio|Brook Park]], Cleveland, [[Fairview Park, Ohio|Fairview Park]], [[Lakewood, Ohio|Lakewood]], North Olmsted and [[Olmsted Township, Ohio|Olmsted Township]], the reservation contains the first parcel of land secured for the establishment of the Metroparks by William A. Stinchcomb—one of the points of interest in the park, in fact, is the Stinchcomb-Grohl memorial. Rocky River reservation boasts three golf courses: Big Met, Little Met and Mastick Woods.||Golf, hiking and cross country skiing trails, boating, fishing, sledding hills, horse stables, an outdoor education facility, and a National Audubon Society Bird Area Program.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Rocky_River.pdf map] |- |'''South Chagrin'''|| {{convert|1521|acres|ha}}||Spanning sections of [[Bentleyville, Ohio|Bentleyville]], [[Solon, Ohio|Solon]] and [[Moreland Hills, Ohio|Moreland Hills]], the reservation follows a portion of the scenic Chagrin River and features an Arboretum, a Polo Field, as well as many trails to hike and bike. Henry Church's 1885 sculpture, ''Squaw Rock'', is one of the park's most striking man-made features as it is carved into a large slab of sandstone adjacent the river.||Trails, cross country skiing, fishing, outdoor education facility, sledding.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/South_Chagrin.pdf map] |- |'''Washington'''||{{convert|59|acres|ha}}||Opened in 2003, this is smallest addition to the Metroparks system. Located in [[Newburgh Heights, Ohio|Newburgh Heights]], the Washington Golf Learning Center is the most notable feature of the park.||Golf, the Horticultural Center and School, athletic fields, hiking trails and fishing.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/Washington_Reservation.pdf map] |- | '''West Creek'''||{{convert|278|acres|ha}}||Opened in 2006, the West Creek Reservation is the newest addition to the Emerald Necklace, and is currently in the process of a $12 million makeover, which is scheduled for completion by 2012. The park, which is home to a wide variety of wildlife, meanders along its namesake, West Creek and is located in [[Parma, Ohio|Parma]].||Trails.||[http://www.clemetparks.com/pdf/reservations/West_Creek_Reservation.pdf map] |} ==See also== * [[Squire's Castle]] (North Chagrin Reservation, [[Willoughby Hills, Ohio|Willoughby Hills]]) ==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.clemetparks.com/ Cleveland Metroparks site] * [http://www.clemetzoo.com/ Cleveland Metroparks Zoo site] * [http://www.clemetparks.com/images/recreation/all_metroparks.gif Map of the Cleveland Metroparks system] {{coord missing|Ohio}}