Cascade Park 170 Cascade St, Elyria, Oh 44035 About the Cover
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JULY-AUGUST 2018 | Volume 58, Number 4 LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS CASCADE PARK 170 Cascade St, Elyria, OH 44035 www.MetroParks.cc www.MetroParks.cc About the Cover proached by the Elyria Rotary whose members were seeking opportunities to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Elyria Rotary Club. The James E. Ziemnik Elyria Rotary Club agreed to sponsor and fund the Accessible Play Ground in Cascade Park Director, Lorain County Metro Parks as part of their legacy of “Service Above Self” and their ongoing efforts to continue to serve the City of Elyria and their citizens. The Elyria 2018 BOARD OF PARK Rotarians embarked upon a major capital fund- COMMISSIONERS: raising campaign that has generated the funds required to design and install the playground. Sherrill M. “Cookie” McLoda The playground was able to be integrated into Chairman the fabric of the larger play area that includes the water play area, swing sets that serve Joseph E. Hribar children and families of all abilities, a climber Vice Chairman structure, decks, and slides that will challenge children while promoting harmonious activities Kenneth M. Lieux that will allow children of all abilities to enjoy Commissioner the opportunities. Immediately adjacent to the playground will be the new restroom facility Probate Court Judge The Lorain County Metro Parks, in partnership with of Elyria’s earlier contribution of designing and that will allow privacy and security for fami- James Walther the City of Elyria and the Elyria Rotary, is excited that implementing a state funded “319 grant” that lies, including those with special needs. Along the major portion of Cascade Park will be reopened stabilized the Black River banks and allowed the way, the Elyria Rotarians have volunteered on Sunday, July 29th at a ribbon cutting ceremony many of those improvements to be installed. to plant trees and have been instrumental in scheduled for 2 pm. Once the 19 Acre section was complete, the installing required security fencing to help pro- The Cascade/Elywood project has been many years first phase commenced on the main and center tect children and families. The playground will in the making and we are excited to finally be able to section of Cascade. That phase included demo- also include many interactive activities that re-open the largest section of the park. The improve- lition, substantial utilities work including large will promote musicality, sound exploration, a ments in this section of the park have included a new water mains, and a large-scale regrading effort plant “tunnel” that provides fun and shade, and more prominent entrance off Furnace Street that that will better stabilize and protect the park and even allowed the return of a bear to help will make vehicular access safer and reduce conflicts and its infrastructure. Unfortunately, such scale celebrate the history of the animals that were with pedestrians, a new accessible playground, of work included the removal of vegetation. once kept in Cascade. The bear is part of a upgraded and improved parking, environmentally However, it provided an opportunity to remove climbing structure within the playground. The sensitive storm water management, many new trees, what had become many diseased and hazard- Elyria Rotary, along with the Elyria Schools, an improved pedestrian circulation system that is ous trees that would later allow a substantial were instrumental in establishing relationships safer for families, pedestrians, and bicyclists, an and improved planting plan that will be safer with the families of both Murray Ridge stu- expanded and more open picnic shelter, restroom for all park users. dents as well as the parents of Elyria Schools facilities that are more private and will serve the Simultaneously, the Lorain County Metro students who have special requirements. The needs of those with special needs, an external video Parks was able to continue to secure a Metro Parks and the City of Elyria were very surveillance security system, a spray basin that will substantial amount of federal transportation pleased that these families were able to assist serve the cooling needs of all park visitors, a mini grants that allows the county-wide multi-pur- with the design requirements for the park. INSIDE “Two Falls” waterfalls that will provide safe and wet pose trail to continue through and become a As the City of Elyria and the Metro Parks fun for all ages, and additional bank stabilization and part of Cascade and Elywood Parks. All of these brings this phase of the improvements to Calendars 3 & 4 re-grading that will minimize flood damage from the trails were made part of the adopted Master completion, we have many more improvements Honor Roll 5 Black River. Importantly, the sledding hill remains, as Plan. Currently, the section of the trail that scheduled into the future as time permits and does the existing Nature Center. enters Cascade from the north near West River funding becomes available. Included will be Freiends 5 In close partnership and collaboration with the Road is being constructed and will traverse the more trees to supplement the more than 250 Summer Fun at City of Elyria, the Lorain County Metro Parks agreed park and will allow a crossing at the existing trees already replanted throughout Cascade to enter into an agreement in 2013 with the City to ford in Black River into Elywood Park, where and Elywood, additional trail work- both new Lorain Metro Parks 6 & 7 assume park operations and agreeing to make sub- new federally funded trails are also being and restored, additional restrooms that will be French Creek 8 stantial capital improvements and upgrades to help installed. That trail system will connect to the added to the existing Nature Center that will Lakeview Park 8 bring Cascade and Elywood back to the prominence City of Elyria’s existing Bike Route along Wash- be accessible from the exterior and will be us- and glory that it deserves within Lorain County. ington Avenue where bicyclists and pedestrians able even when the building may be closed to Butterfly House 11 With the support of the Lorain County residents, who will be able to connect to downtown Elyria the public, a new visitor’s center, the lighted Miller Nature Center 11 passed a 10-year levy in the fall of 2014, staffing, near Ely Square and to the City’s bike route bridge over the Black River, an amphithe- operations, and improvements were able to com- and the Metro Parks’ Black River/North Coast ater, additional upgrades and renovations to Splash Zone 12 mence in 2014 and 2015. A series of public meetings Trail system. The final piece of the trail will be Elywood. Mercy Health 12 were held throughout 2014 and a Master Plan was connected when a bridge is installed in 2021 We hope to see many of you on July 29th developed and adopted by the City of Elyria and the that will span the Black River that will allow a as we celebrate the park’s re-opening along Lorain County Metro Parks permanent and more safe connection between with the City of Elyria and the Elyria Rotary. In addition to a general clean-up, improvements Cascade and Elywood Parks. With the City of The Lorain County Metro Parks and the City were started at the north end of the park in the Elyria’s collaboration, the bridge will include of Elyria are privileged to be able to serve all area called 19 Acres in 2016. Those improvements low level lighting that will permit evening and of our residents and know that without your included a new playground, a new restroom, a new night time use for future events. continued support and trust in our abilities to picnic shelter, and restoring the trails that had been As the Master Plan was being developed, bring each of our residents first class parks and eroded and washed away in previous years. The City the City of Elyria and the Metro Parks were ap- facilities, none of this would be possible. 2 July/August 2018 www.MetroParks.cc WEEKLY PROGRAMS WEDNESDAY 11 EVENING MARSH HIKE WEEKLY WALKERS EARLY MORNING MARSH HIKE 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm, SRR. Join us as we explore the 8:30-9:30 am, COL. 7/2. 10, 18 & 26 7:30 am - 9 am, SRR. marsh in the evening. YOGA IN THE PARK WOODLAND WALKS FRIDAY 20 9-10:30 am, KFP-ALPL. Every Wednesday. 10 am - 11 am, VRR. See 7/3 for event details. PRESCHOOL NATURE KIDS: HERPS! LORAIN COUNTY FITNESS WALK KIDS IN THE GARDEN 10 am - 11 am, KFR. Learn about herps through 5:30-6:30 pm, SZ. Every Monday. Outside, weather 2 pm - 2:30 pm, SG. Fun crafts stories and activities, crafts, and outdoor exploration (weather permitting. ABC. Every Thursday. Outside, weather activities in the children’s garden permitting). permitting, or inside at MHRC. THURSDAY 12 VERMILION RIVER CLEAN-UP HIKE Garden TRAM RIDES KAYAK FLOAT (GEOLOGY) BORROW A 10 am - 11 am, VRR-CB. Hike the river and pick up SG. Thursday 10am-1pm and Sunday 1pm-4-pm BOAT litter along the way. Trash bags and gloves provided. JULY 2018 JULY MONDAY EVENING TRAM RIDES AT 9 am - 12 pm, Off-Site. Kayak on the Vermilion ASTRONOMY: KOPF River learn about Geology as it relates to the river. SUMMER SKIES 5:30pm-7pm, KFP-ALPL. Thru Oct. 1 (excluding Equipment provided. PR 7/9. 10 pm - 12 am, CAR-NO. Co-Sponsored by Black Labor day) first come, first serve. KAYAK FLOAT (GEOLOGY) BRING YOUR River Astronomical Society. Clear skies only. Cloud METRO PARKS LOCATIONS Wellington Wagon RIDES OWN BOAT date 7/21 AND FACILITIES Thursdays 10am-12pm and 6pm-8pm, WR 9 am - 12 pm, Off-Site.