Lake Metroparks Ten-year Strategic Plan Executive Summary

LAKE METROPARKS’
Ten-year Strategic Plan
Executive Summary
In a continuing effort to meet the needs and
desires of all Lake County residents, Lake Metroparks
periodically reviews its approach to fulfilling the agency’s
mission and goals. The park district has recently created
a ten-year strategic plan that will inform decision-making
with regard to policies, operations, maintenance and
capital improvements over the next decade.
Lake Metroparks Mission
To conserve and preserve the natural resources of Lake County while
providing a variety of safe, affordable and enjoyable educational and
recreational programs and activities that enhance the quality of life
in Lake County now and for the generations to follow.
To fulfill this mission, Lake Metroparks has
established the following broad goals:
• To preserve, maintain and protect a diversity of
natural resources and related ecosystems
throughout the park system.
• To provide safe, clean, convenient and appropriate
public access to and use of park properties.
• To foster increased appreciation within the general
public for the value of natural resources and their
contribution to the quality of life.
• To provide educational, cultural and recreational
opportunities and events that are compatible
with environmental consciousness, a conservation
ethic, resource preservation, a healthy lifestyle and
community enhancement.

Lake Metroparks’ strategic plan examines how the
mission and these broad goals can best be fulfilled
given the current and projected economic, demographic
and environmental trends facing Lake County and the
surrounding region.
Lake Metroparks’ approach to planning and formulating
strategic actions was to divide Lake County into six
diverse districts. The establishment of districts will
better enable the park district to focus future investment
decisions on the unique opportunities and specific needs
that exist within each district.
The distinctive geography that defines Lake County has
influenced development patterns and created unique
districts. These districts are:
Penitentiary Glen Reservation
steven hale
Indian Point Park
patricia greene
Urbanized Lake Plain
Upper Chagrin Plateau
Marsh Creek Basin
Grand River Gorge
Lower Grand River
Eastern Lake Plain
In the following pages, we explore each district and how
the strategic plan can be implemented in each area.
Lake Erie
16

urbanized lake plain
Characterized by a relatively flat plain, the westernmost
section of the county was easily developed and can be
viewed as an expansion of Cleveland’s eastern suburbs into
Lake County. The Chagrin River winds its way through the
plain creating the district’s singular but dominant natural
feature. The Urbanized Lake Plain includes the communities
of Wickliffe, Willowick, Eastlake, Lakeline, Timberlake and
Willoughby. Lake Metroparks included in the district are:
Chagrin River Park
Gully Brook Park
Lakefront Lodge
Parsons Gardens
Pine Ridge Country Club
Future Objectives
Because of its highly urbanized character, the natural resource
identity of the district is currently limited. The key to success
in strengthening that identity in the future lies in extending
Chagrin River Park by establishing links between riverfront
parkland surrounding community parks and Lake Erie.
Study nature,
love nature,
stay close to nature.
It will never fail you.
Lakefront Lodge
ROLLIE ANDERSON
Chagrin River Park
J.DELL PHOTOGRAPHY
–Frank Lloyd Wright
Gully Brook Park J.DELL PHOTOGRAPHY
17

upper chagrin plateau
The Upper Chagrin Plateau includes Willoughby Hills,
Kirtland, Kirtland Hills and Waite Hill and its northern
boundary is clearly delineated by Interstate 90. The district’s
heritage is largely defined by the enduring presence of
large estate farms, most established as summer homes
for wealthy Cleveland industrialists at the beginning of the
20th century. The area’s natural beauty is enhanced by the
presence of majestic forests, distinctive rock formations and
wooded valleys along the main and east branches of the
Chagrin River. Lake Metroparks included in the district are:
Chapin Forest Reservation
Children’s Schoolhouse Nature Park
Farmpark
Penitentiary Glen Reservation
Pleasant Valley Park
Future Objectives
In the coming decade, initiatives in the Upper Chagrin
Plateau will focus on improving connectivity, protecting
scenic views and offsetting the loss of large open spaces
that may result from the subdivision of estate farms.
To me a lush carpet of pine
needles or spongy grass is
more welcome than the most
luxurious Persian rug.
–Helen Keller
don kemp
linda terdan
Alyson andrassy
Pleasant Valley Park Farmpark Penitentiary Glen Reservation
Chapin Forest Reservation Scott w. vincent

marsh creek basin
The Marsh Creek Basin encompasses the low flatlands
with drainage feeding streams that reach Lake Erie west of
Mentor Marsh and east of the lower Chagrin River corridor.
Like the Urbanized Lake Plain to the west, the area was
easily developable and as the Cleveland metropolitan area
expanded to the east, it saw extensive growth between 1950
and 1980. The district includes Mentor, Mentor-on-the-Lake
and parts of Concord Township. Lake Metroparks manages
one park in this district:
Veterans Park
Future Objectives
During the coming decade, Lake Metroparks will work with
local communities, agencies and organizations to contribute
to the preservation of the Marsh Creek riparian area.
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find
reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
–Rachel Carson
Veterans Park J.DELL PHOTOGRAPHY

grand river gorge
The Grand River Gorge is defined by the dramatic
landscape formed by the Grand River and its three
principal tributaries: Mill Creek, Paine Creek and Big
Creek. The district includes the eastern portion of
Concord Township, Leroy Township and the southern
portion of Madison Township. The section of the Grand
River that flows through the district was designated
“Wild” by the state in 1974. Here, the steep valley
walls and wide floodplains have done an effective
job of limiting development along the river’s banks,
with agricultural and low density residential land uses
characterizing the landscape throughout the district.
Lake Metroparks included in the district are:
Concord Woods Nature Park
Environmental Learning Center
Girdled Road Reservation
Greenway Corridor
Helen Hazen Wyman Park
Hell Hollow Wilderness Area
Hidden Lake Lodge
Hidden Valley Park
Hogback Ridge Park
Indian Point Park
Mason’s Landing Park
Paine Falls Park
Riverview Park
I chatter, chatter, as I flow,
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.
–Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Brook
Future Objectives
During the coming decade, Lake Metroparks will
concentrate on expanding scenic overlooks, picnic
areas and trail access within and between existing
parks and reservations and preserving the critical
ecological resources that underlie the district’s
unique character.
Riverview Park
don kemp
Girdled Road Reservation North
Indian Point Park
nicholas A. tonelli
Greenway Corridor/Chair Factory Falls
steven hale

lower grand river
The Lower Grand River district is generally urbanized and
has a long history of accommodating industrial development.
The area is well-known for fishing and water-based
recreational pursuits. The district includes Painesville,
portions of Painesville Township, Grand River and Fairport
Harbor. Lake Metroparks included in the district are:
Beaty Landing
Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park
Grand River Landing
Painesville Township Park
Future Objectives
During the coming decade, Lake Metroparks will work with
Painesville, Painesville Township, Grand River and Fairport
Harbor to explore trail linkages between existing park areas.
The goal is to extend the Greenway Corridor north to Lake
Erie and along Lake Erie to link Fairport Harbor Lakefront
Park and Lake Erie Bluffs.
A lake is the landscape’s most
beautiful and expressive feature.
It is earth’s eye; looking into
which the beholder measures the
depth of his own nature.
–Henry David Thoreau
Beaty Landing
loretta todd
Grand River Landing
J.Dell photography
Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park brian fowler

eastern lake plain
The Eastern Lake Plain includes the majority of Painesville
Township, Perry Township, Perry Village, North Perry Village,
Madison Township and Madison Village. Agricultural uses
associated primarily with commercial nurseries dominate the
landscape along with remnant industrial uses in the northern
tier of Perry Township. The Perry Nuclear Power Plant is also
located in this district on the shore of Lake Erie. The most
important asset of this district is its largely undeveloped
14-mile Lake Erie shoreline. Lake Metroparks included in
this district are:
Arcola Creek Park
Erie Shores Golf Course
Lake Erie Bluffs
Lakeshore Reservation
Future Objectives
During the coming decade, Lake Metroparks will focus
on protecting and preserving the scenic and ecologicallysensitive
area within Lake Erie Bluffs and increasing public
access to lakeshore parks.
There is a way that nature speaks,
that land speaks. Most of the time we
are simply not patient enough, quiet
enough, to pay attention to the story.
–Linda Hogan
Arcola Creek Park
shane hesson
Lakeshore Reservation
loretta todd
Lake Erie Bluffs
brian fowler
To see a complete version of Lake Metroparks’
Ten-Year Strategic Plan, please call 440-639-7275.