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Upgrades continue at Centerville Mills Park
(by Joan Demirjian - August 18, 2010)
Upgrades continue at Centerville Mills Park
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
More activity is occurring at Centerville Mills Park, and Bainbridge Township is continuing to improve the facilities there, according to Dave Mitchell, township properties superintendent.
Many of the improvements have been done this summer by two work groups at the township park, said Mr. Mitchell, who updated the progress for Township Trustees Monday.
He said the park has had the help of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, as well as the green team from Chagrin Falls Park.
The Sea Cadets gutted the old house on Crackel Road that stands over the waterfalls on the south side of the road, Mr. Mitchell said. "They saved everything they could from the house," he said, including the knotty-pine paneling.
The house is to be demolished once the proper paperwork is filed and the township advertises for bids.
When the house is taken down, there could be a small waterfalls park there, but it is a question of funding, Mr. Mitchell said.
The Sea Cadets put a new roof on the main restrooms, called the blue room, he said.
Safety rails on the footbridges were built, and the cadets used some donated lumber in a number of the projects, Mr. Mitchell said.
The Bainbridge Men's Civic Club donated $2,000 toward the materials needed for the renovations.
Two cabins were taken down, painting has been done and smaller repairs have been made, he said.
"They did a wonderful job there and we hope to see them come back again," Trustee Jeff Markley said.
The Green Team has been working in the park for the past several weeks. The team, based at Chagrin Falls Park Community Center, took down a fence that protects the dining hall from the parking lot, installed a new one and stained it, Mr. Mitchell said.
They demolished an old stage at the picnic shelter and painted the changing rooms, he said. The team has done some trail work.
Some of the teens did grounds cleanup work, and they are preparing to paint a mural at the park's large picnic pavilion, according to Brian Wagner, career achievement program coordinator at Chagrin Falls Community Center.
The group also has been scraping paint off a cabin and will be painting it, Mr. Wagner said.
Working on the fence, they learned construction skills and they are also getting experience in using different equipment.
Members, ranging in age from 14 to 24, are paid through Geauga County summer works stimulus program, which is government funded.
"But they also volunteer as well," he said. "They understand the need to help the community."
The program provides inroads to volunteering and learning how important they are to the community, Mr. Wagner said.
There are about 20 students involved, and many of them are working overtime, without pay, he said.
Green Team members will be working until late August in Centerville Mills Park, Mr. Mitchell said.
He told Township Trustees on Monday there is also work to be done on parking arrangements, especially for those seeking to walk to the park's waterfalls on the south side of Crackel Road in Aurora.
"More and more people are going to the waterfalls," he said. People walk across Crackel Road or park on Cascade Drive in Aurora.
"We're looking at a safer parking area for all concerned. I don't want anybody hurt," Mr. Mitchell said.
Right now, the safest place is the park's main parking area next to the park office, he said. People can walk across the grass to the crosswalk.
Another possibility is to use the park's former swimming pool area for temporary parking until a permanent solution is worked out.
"I want to keep people off the road," Mr. Mitchell said. "All it takes is one accident. I would rather have safety first."
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