[ back ]
Metroparks trail plan may have hit dead end
(by Sue Reid - January 21, 2010)
Metroparks trail plan may have hit dead end
By SUE REID
A trail that would have provided a means for the public to view the North Branch Preserve property of the Cleveland Metroparks, which was purchased by the City of Solon through a state grant nearly nine years ago, may not be created.
Solon City Council's safety and public properties committee approved a motion last week to delete the reference to a trail in the agreement with the Cleveland Metroparks and refer it to the law director for his review prior to being forwarded to council. The action will be subject to the review of Law Director David J. Matty, along with the original agreement.
Approximately four years ago, the Cleveland Metroparks presented the city with a layout for trails for the North Branch Preserve property. One of the parts of the final agreement that was entered into regarding the land was that an appropriate handicapped-accessible trail would be installed at the expense of the Metroparks from Hawthorne Parkway in the Metroparks system to the North Branch Preserve property. The proposed 800-foot trail carried a price tag of $78,000.
The public land continues to have no sign to designate its existence or any paths to lead people through it.
Vern J. Hartenburg, executive director of the Cleveland Metroparks, told the committee that, while the park system remains willing to provide the proposed trail, the rationale and practical purpose of it seems limited.
He said there are numerous other, more purposeful Americans With Disabilities Act trails that exist in the South Chagrin Reservation that, in 2009, were resurfaced, facilitating all-purpose access, including wheelchair, walker and baby stroller. Also in 2009, a new ADA trail was installed to the Squaw Rock overlook on the Chagrin River. Th0se trails are close by the North Branch Preserve and lead to more appropriate points of interest, Mr. Hartenburg said. The trail proposed would go from Metroparks Drive back to a point that is an overlook. It goes to a "dead-end stub," he said, "at a point of no particular natural resource or other point of interest."
In addition, he said, the construction of the trail would represent an intrusion into an otherwise natural, homogeneous forest and wildlife habitat. To facilitate ADA standards of slope and grade, Mr. Hartenburg said, considerable cutting of trees, earth grading, shaping and drainage work would be required.
Also, security patrol of the 800-foot trail "stub" would be problematic, in that the trail is out of view of other park and trail users, "potentially providing a hiding spot attracting non-constructive activity," he said.
Mr. Hartenburg said that, considering the money invested in preserving the property, it seems "ironic"to make an intrusion in a natural area.
The city secured $1.2 million for 21.6 acres of the 57-acre North Branch Preserve in 2001. Of the $1.2 million paid by the city, $1.15 million came from a state grant. The Cleveland Metroparks paid another $1 million for the remaining acreage and agreed to manage the entire property.
"While we are willing to construct this," Mr. Hartenburg said, "We kind of question the wisdom of making an expenditure of public money that is not as high of a priority as thought was needed in 2000."
"We support it for interpretive reasons and to enjoy the area for the public," Mr. Hartenburg said. "If there were no other alternatives to enjoy the area, then it would be considered."
Councilman William I. Russo, who chairs Solon City Council's safety and public properties committee, said that, at this time, the $78,000 expenditure could be better spent elsewhere.
"It seems as if it defeats the purpose of what we tried to do 10 years ago," Councilman Edward H. Kraus said. He said the installation of a trail there possibly could cause flooding issues.
Councilman Richard A. Bell asked Lt. John Kosek Sr., of the Metroparks Rangers, if he would have trouble enforcing that type of area and keeping the public safe.
Mr. Kosek said yes. Most trails are loops that do not dead end, he said.
Mr. Hromco told the committee that the park district has made a "good-faith effort" for the appropriate design and installation of the trail.
He said the acquisition of the property followed a tremendous amount of discussion over a period of 1 1/2 years. Providing public access did come up as one of the points of discussion and negotiations, Mr. Hromco said. Preserving the land in its natural setting was a big part of what the city was trying to accomplish with the original agreement, he said.
"Although there was some amount of controversy on the question of whether a hard-surface walkway would meet the environmental need to preserve the North Branch Preserve property, the installation of an ADA access to this area was an item that was agreed to as part of the preservation of the property," Mr. Hromco said.
[ back ]
