Friends of the Crooked River

Friends of the Crooked River Present RiverDay 2007, Saturday May 19

Join Friends of the Crooked River, RiverDay Sponsors and Event Coordinators for the 17th annual RiverDay. Take a look inside. Select an event or two. Pack up the family. Participate in the events and celebrate the Cuyahoga.

Participate and get involved by "caring" about the ongoing problems of our river and also to celebrate the accomplishments made over the years. RiverDay aims to raise awareness and understanding of the policies and practices that improve water quality and wildlife habitat in the watershed. It's also a day to celebrate the vast recreational, cultural, historic and natural resources of our American Heritage River.

Encourage changes for the better. Join the RiverDay fun and get to know your River.

Caring for the Cuyahoga - Participate and Celebrate

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1) WHISKEY ISLAND - CELEBRATE CLEVELAND'S WATERFRONT RENAISSANCE 2:00 - 4:00 PM: Come and celebrate the beginning of Cleveland's waterfront renaissance! This year the county commissioners and the mayor confirmed that Whiskey Island will remain open to the public for recreational purposes. There is no longer a threat of port authority development on the county's public property. Explore and experience where our American Heritage River greets our Great Lake. 3:00 pm: Gather at the River Boardwalk to hear speakers discuss the restoration of the parkland and beach, the future of the historic Coast Guard Station and Hulett Ore Unloaders, and extending the Towpath Trail to Whiskey Island. Self-guided walking tours of Wendy Park to the River Boardwalk. Bring picnics, kayaks, volleyballs, cameras, binoculars and feel free to stay for the sunset. Meet at Wendy Park- West Shoreway (Rt. 2) to the Edgewater Park exit, take a right turn at the first road and follow signs. Contact Ed Hauser at (216) 651-3476 or [email protected]. Visit www.citizensvision.org and www.ohio.sierraclub.org/northeast. Sponsored by the Friends of Whiskey Island and the Northeast Ohio Sierra Club.

2) BIG CREEK: WHERE THE WATERS MEET 10:00AM - NOON: Come explore the hidden beauty of Big Creek at its confluence with the Cuyahoga River. Learn about the planning underway to enhance the area and connect it with all- purpose trails from the Towpath Trail to the Metroparks Zoo and beyond. Lunch provided. Tour starts at 10 am. Meet at Cudniks Tavern parking lot, 3995 Jennings Road at Harvard Ave, Cleveland. Wear sturdy shoes. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Free. No Reservations. Contact Bob Gardin at (216) 269-6472 or [email protected]. Visit www.friendsofbigcreek.org. Sponsored by the Friends of Big Creek.

3) WEST CREEK HIKE 9:00 AM - NOON: An exploratory hike of future restoration sites along West Creek and a peek at other preserved areas. Come experience areas of West Creek that could someday be a part of the West Creek Greenway and Trail system. Meet at 1440 Snow/Rockside Road, at the corner of Broadview and Rockside (next to Ohio Savings Bank), Parma. Free. No Reservations. Contact Derek Schafer at (216) 749-3720 or [email protected]. Visit www.westcreek.org. Sponsored by the West Creek Preservation Committee.

4) RICK NOLZE RIVER RUN 9:30 AM - NOON: Participant's will canoe down Tinker's Creek while cleaning up the creek. Meet at Glen Meadow Park, 1956 Glenwood Drive, Twinsburg. Reservations required. Cost is $2/adult and $1/child. Contact Derek Schroeder at 330-963-8722 or [email protected]. Sponsored by the City of Twinsburg.

5) CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - RIVERDAY CLEANUP 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Help cleanup along the Cuyahoga River and other areas within our Cuyahoga Valley National Park! Snacks, water and lots of fun provided. Meet at Howe Meadow, 4040 Riverview Road, in Bath. Free. Reservations required. Work clothes, sturdy boots, long sleeved shirts and long pants, bring gloves. Under 18 must be with parent or guardian. Contact Travis White at (440) 546- 5996 or [email protected]. Sponsored by the National Park Service-Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

6) FREE THE FALLS - GORGE PARK 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Help stop the hydro project and free the Great Falls of the Cuyahoga. Join Friends of the Crooked River to learn more about this project proposed in Gorge Metro Park despite strong objections from Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, Friends of the Crooked River and many other agencies and organizations. Meet at the parking lot in Gorge Park in Cuyahoga Falls. We will hike to the site of the proposed project and learn about impacts. Free. No reservations. Contact John Kaminski (440)356-8974 or [email protected]. Visit www.cuyahogariver.net Sponsored by the Friends of the Crooked River.

7) LITTLE CUYAHOGA RIVER CONSERVANCY OPEN HOUSE 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: An open house to discuss the Little Cuyahoga River's current issues, view new paintings by the conservancy's artists and get to know one another better. Meet at the Kingfisher Art Gallery, 889 N. Main St. in Northhill, Akron. Contact Lauren von Vesterfield at (330) 798-1428 or [email protected]. Sponsored by The Little Cuyahoga River Conservancy.

8) CASCADE LOCKS GUIDED TOUR ALONG THE CROOKED RIVER 10:00 AM - NOON: Bruce Norton will lead hikers in an educational walk from Mustill Store to Memorial Parkway trailhead along the historic Ohio & Erie Canal and Little Cuyahoga River. Meet at Mustill Store in the Cascade Valley Metro Park on north side of North St. Free. No reservations. Dress for walking the Towpath. Contact Rowan MacTaggart at (330) 374-5625 or [email protected]. Sponsored by the Cascade Locks Park Association.

9) ADAMS RUN PRESERVE - URBAN STREAM CLEAN UP 9:00 AM - NOON: It's time for some spring cleanup and maintenance at this new, developing preserve at the headwaters of the Little Cuyahoga River. Along with a little work, we'll explore the wetland and woods, enjoy some fun activities for the kids, and learn more about how we can preserve this patch of green in east Akron. Dress for the weather and bring gloves. Located just east of the intersection of Essex St. and Archwood Ave., south of the Goodyear test track. Call for directions and information. Contact Chris Bunch (Medina) at 330-722-7313; or Peg Bobel (Akron) at 330-864-6033 or [email protected]. Visit www.wrlc.cc. Sponsored by the Medina Summit Chapter of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

10) MUNROE FALLS RIVER RESTORATION 9:00 AM - NOON: Hike along the Cuyahoga River. Stop at new amphitheater, the North Abutment and several locations to see our free-flowing river and riverbank restoration. Join volunteers and local Boy Scouts to help cleanup and restore the old picnic area overlooking the restored river site. Long pants, closed shoes/boots, and gloves are recommended. Volunteers under 18 must be with parent or guardian. Donuts and coffee provided by MFPB. Meet at Brust Park, Route 91 in Munroe Falls along the Cuyahoga River. Free. No Reservations. 7AM-11AM: Enjoy a RiverDay Pancake and Sausage Breakfast (donations accepted to the Munroe Fire and Rescue Association) at Fire Station 1, 43 Munroe Falls Ave. Contact Mayor Frank Larson at (330) 688-7491 or [email protected]. Sponsored by the Munroe Falls Park Board.

11) KENT: WHERE THE CUYAHOGA FLOWS FREE 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: "Watersheds of Kent" and "Historic Kent: The Early Years" presentations; Henry David Thoreau; Historical River Walk; Riveredge Cleanup; Bio-Bus; Kent Bog Open House; Exhibits. Meet at Kent Historical Society, 234 South Water St., Kent. Free. No Reservations. Contact Sandy Halem at (330) 673-8632 or Edith Chase at (330) 673-1193. Sponsored by the Kent Environmental Council, Kent Parks and Recreation Depart., Kent Historical Society, City of Kent Service Dept., Portage Park District, Friends of the Kent Bog, Cuyahoga American Heritage River and Sierra Club-Portage Trail.

12) KENT BOG OPEN HOUSE 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Visit a gem from the ice age, unchanged for 10,000 years, a bit of Canada in our own backyard - ½ mile Boardwalk. Meet at Kent Bog State Nature Preserve, Meloy Road (just west of St. Rt. 43) Kent. Free. No reservations. Contact Charlotte McCurdy at (330) 527-5118 or [email protected]. Sponsored by the ODNR, DNAP, and Friends of Kent Bog.

13) CANOEING THE UPPER CUYAHOGA STATE SCENIC RIVER 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: An enjoyable canoe float for the whole family to experience the wildlife and beauty of the Upper Cuyahoga River. Participants will be required to sign a waiver form. Reservations required. Free. Meet at Eldon Russell Park of Rapids Rd, 2.5 miles north of SR 422. Contact Greg Marvin at (330) 527-4184 or [email protected]. Sponsored by the ODNR Scenic Rivers Program.

14) RIVER WALK: LIVING ON THE RIVER'S EDGE 2:00 PM -3:30 PM: Discover how the unpredictability of the water level of the Cuyahoga River can support only the hardiest of plants and animals on this river walk along the riparian corridor. No registration. All ages welcome. Meet at Eldon Russell Park, 16315 Rapids Rd., Troy Township. Contact John Kolar at (440)286-9516 or [email protected]. Sponsored by the Geauga Park District.

15) EUCLID CREEK WATERSHED EVENT - INVASIVE PLANT PULL 10:00AM - NOON: Get ready to get a little dirty-for a good cause. We'll be pulling Garlic Mustard, an invasive plant that out competes native species and isn't a good food source for wildlife. Bring garden or work gloves if you have them. Meet at the Wildwood State Park entrance parking lot. Contact Lynn Garrity at (216) 524-6580 x16 or lgarrity@cuyahogaswcd. Sponsored by the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Euclid Creek Watershed Council and ODNR-Wildwood State Park.