West Creek Preserve/Metroparks Public Meeting - August 17, 2004

This meeting followed the same general format as the other public meetings. To start things off, there was a presentation explaining the purpose behind these public forums, as well as the purpose of the present meeting and the goals and insight they hope to obtain from them. There was also an explanation of the findings from the other meetings, which included the following topics: level and location of development; guiding principles for Park improvements; Intended experience; and incompatible uses.

Before the main group was split into subgroups for further discussion, the attendees were briefed with a summary of the phone survey conducted on 400 Parma residents.

Following the phone survey was a discussion by the Cleveland Metropark’s Chief of Natural Resources, Dan Petit. He spent his time explaining the important resources of the West Creek Preserve. The WCP is 87% mature forests, 10% grassland, 1% wetlands, and the remainder is covered by the creek. He then identified some main strategies which are to obtain the following goals: protect and buffer areas of high conservation value; identify and ameliorate impacts of environmental stresses; restore and enhance ecosystems’ functions and processes; access and monitor management action and long term trends.

Chief of Park Planning, Patty Stevens, then gave a presentation on the Site and Facility aspect of the project. Her discussion included the following topics: appropriate level of development; guiding principles for development; important site planning concerns, such as safety and security, appropriate signage, minimal disturbance of natural area, and 3-dimensional exhibits that tell the story of West Creek and the WCPC.

Mr. Jim Kastelic then reviewed potential site restraints and concepts. Many areas of WCP are sloped over 13% and cannot be used. Trails may be possible in the flood plain since runoff would result in a dry trail. The wetlands need protection and buffers. The TV towers restrict areas for use. The fall zone of the towers is 350 ft., which is where the inner guy wires are placed. The occurrence of towers falling is rare and they are designed to collapse within the inner guy wires. The outside guy wires are 750 ft. from the base of the towers. Though rare, they are subject to icing and can pose a danger to anyone beneath them.

The Education and Interpretation Workgroup presented their findings, determining the area of focus for the Preserve should reflect its most defining feature - the "wilderness". In order to facilitate a more meaningful wilderness experience the workgroup looked at interpretive initiatives that included "first person interpretation" - activities that are guided by a naturalist for example, longer more formal outdoor educational programming and "hands on" projects that promote learning by doing. The workgroup indicates that a facility or center built in the Preserve should focus on environmental education - perhaps with an affiliation with a school or district, and be open and accessible to the public. It was noted the design of the facility should compliment the wilderness setting of the Preserve and incorporate "green building" techniques. The suggested overall guiding educational and interpretation theme explores the experience of reconnecting to nature, focusing on watershed education and outreach, geography, grassroots activism, and nature as a refuge. The workgroup identified a number of initiatives to facilitate learning such as incorporating the use of technology in programming, forging partnerships with schools and providing a variety of ongoing educational programming and workshops to engage students and all community members.