Building our future

Lindsay Smith, marketing & public relations manager

Summit Metro Parks continues to restore the Valley View Area to its natural state. Projects at the former golf course include planting of native vegetation, wetlands and river restoration work and reconstruction of the historic barn.

As 2020 comes to an end, we look back with gratitude at a challenging, yet productive year. We thank Summit County voters for their ongoing support of the park district, and we commit to continuing our careful stewardship of resources and service to the county and its residents. In this spirit, we are excited to usher in our centennial year with meaningful progress on several initiatives that help set the stage for our next century.

VALLEY VIEW AREA

Originally a dairy barn built in the mid-1800s, renovations at Valley View will highlight the building’s soaring ceilings, historic barnstone foundation and scenic position on the property.

Acquired by the park district in 2016, the Valley View Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park in Akron has already undergone a significant transformation and continues to evolve and take shape. Several substantial state and federal grant awards have helped the park district re-naturalize the land and reimagine the property’s historic barn that once served as a golf clubhouse. Where man-made modifications once redirected water and prevented native vegetation, free-flowing waterways and the start of prairie and forest habitats are now in the works. In 2021, the park district will launch a prototype hiking trail near the barn, which will allow visitors access to explore and watch us grow. When river restoration work is complete, the next project will be developing pedestrian access to the Cuyahoga River.

Originally identified in the park district’s first master plan, Valley View provides a critical link between three Metro Parks and connects visitors to the Cuyahoga River, hiking and biking trails, the Towpath, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and more.

SUMMIT LAKE NATURE CENTER

This architectural rendering shows the future Summit Lake Nature Center.

The new Summit Lake Nature Center is coming to life at the former pump house building along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Akron. This building was donated to the park district by the City of Akron, and its development has been made possible with the help of generous in-kind services and grant funding. On the first floor, visitors will find a large gathering space with 14-foot high ceilings and public restrooms. With expansive views of Summit Lake, the second floor includes a kitchenette and a large area for interpretive programs. The nature center will feature engaging educational exhibits that tell the story of the site’s cultural past and highlight its natural history. Initial concepts include a welcome desk, ample seating and gallery-style displays, as well as live educational animals. The anticipated grand opening is set for spring 2021.

GORGE METRO PARK UPDATES

Recent improvements at Gorge Metro Park create a more welcoming entrance.

This year, Gorge Metro Park received enhancements that improve the visitor experience. When arriving at the ADA-accessible main parking lot, visitors are greeted with a new concrete plaza featuring a large interactive boulder and barnstone seat walls. Completing the main entrance area are a bike rack, updated kiosk area with sandstone seating and steps leading to a multipurpose lawn, refurbished stone picnic area under shade trees and a new flush restroom. To help with access, a new sidewalk along Front Street leads to an updated pedestrian entrance to the park. Park staff are currently in the early stages of creating a master plan for additional improvements that will be implemented after the anticipated removal of the Gorge Dam. If you haven’t been to Gorge Metro Park in a while, we recommend a visit to enjoy unobstructed late-fall views of the Cuyahoga River!

Summit Metro Parks has provided clean and safe parks for nearly 100 years and we continue to evolve to serve our community while remaining true to our mission. Improvements and new projects undertaken today set the stage for future generations to enjoy visits to parks in their own back yards. We invite you to join us in our centennial anniversary by visiting us at these new and updated locations.


For more great stories like this, check out Green Islands Magazine, a bi-monthly publication from Summit Metro Parks. Summit County residents can sign up to receive the publication at home free of charge.

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