Cuyahoga County Natural Resources Assistance Council
Round 2022–2023 Recommended Projects
March 2023
The District One Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC) recommended (4) four projects to the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) for Round 2022-2023 of the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program funding. Approximately 264 acres and over 19,000 linear feet of riparian corridor will be acquired and preserved in Cuyahoga County.
West Creek Conservancy, Zaclon River Landing
Total Project Cost: $1,681,000
Clean Ohio Award: $646,000
Acquisition Amount: 3 Acres
Zaclon River Landing Project is a 3-acre acquisition on the east bank of the Cuyahoga River within the City of Cleveland. This project will convert a degraded industrial property to public park/greenspace with equitable access to the Cuyahoga River and associated water trail. Along with full restoration/reclamation, West Creek Conservancy will install an ADA ramp for direct access to the river. West Creek Conservancy, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University Spartan Alumni Rowing Association, will convert the site to public usage and riverside greenspace with direct access to the river. Zaclon River Landing will be the southernmost public access point to the Cuyahoga River in the City of Cleveland.
West Creek Conservancy, Glenwillow Greenway Expansion Project
Total Project Cost: $946,650
Clean Ohio Award: $324,650
Acquisition Amount: 59 Acres
The Glenwillow Greenway Expansion Project will protect and preserve over 59 acres of existing forest located in the Village of Glenwillow. This project will also protect 6,941 linear feet of streams and 17.74 acres of wetlands. The Glenwillow Greenway Expansion Project will increase the greenway's total size by over 30%. The greenway expansion will provide important open space for public access through future trails within the property. These trails will provide future linkages to other parks within the Village of Glennwillow as well as Cleveland Metroparks' Bedford Reservation as part of an ongoing community-wide effort known as the Tinker's Creek Trail Connection.
Cleveland Metroparks, Hawthorn Creek Acquisition and Preservation
Total Project Cost: $2,720,000
Clean Ohio Award: $2,040,000
Acquisition Amount: 149 Acres
The Cleveland Metroparks will acquire approximately 149 acres of a 204 acre parcel in the City of Solon. The property was operated as a golf course until 2018. The property contains approximately 6,000 lineal feet stretch of Hawthorn Creek and a number of primary headwater streams. This greenspace connects to the ±34.5 miles of existing all-purpose, hiking, and bridle trails in South Chagrin Reservation and to the ±30 miles of existing all-purpose, hiking, and bridle trails in the adjacent Bedford Reservation. Cleveland Metroparks will preserve and maintain this property as part of the South Chagrin Reservation.
West Creek Conservancy, Chippewa Creek Conservation Corridor
Total Project Cost: $578,500
Clean Ohio Award: $263,500
Acquisition Amount: 53 Acres
The Chippewa Creek Conservation Corridor Project includes the acquisition of three parcels, approximately 53 acres of land, within the Chippewa Creek watershed in Broadview Heights. This project will protect over 6,000 lineal feet of stream, 12.8 acres of wetland, critical floodplain and successional/mature upland forest. The Project is a first phase of aligning a significant corridor along Chippewa Creek. West Creek Conservancy and the City of Broadview Heights are coordinating efforts and resources to protect the waterway and highly forested corridor, with long-term intent to create additional recreational/greenway access into the corridor.
