Runners, bikers, dog walkers and hikers can now enjoy a seventeen acre nature preserve park in the Village of Glenwillow, thanks to the Village’s recent acquisition of a property that lies on the bank of Tinkers Creek. The land will connect the Village of Glenwillow to the Bedford Reservation, part of the Cleveland Metroparks Emerald Necklace.
Residents of Glenwillow wanted to connect their community to the Bedford Reservation and protect the green space. This was made a reality when an abandoned house on the east side of Richmond Road was demolished by the Cuyahoga Land Bank, so that the property could be returned to its natural state. Glenwillow set out to make the vision a reality by working with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC), who acquired the property and obtained a Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant for the project.
The Clean Ohio Greenspace Conservation Award from Natural Resources Assistant Council required matching funds. Thats when Jeff Schiffman, Conservation Project Manager of the WRLC, reached out to the Cuyahoga Land Bank to ask if they would demolish the abandoned house as part of the demolition match.
“The Cuyahoga Land Bank’s assistance allowed the Village to transform this property from an eyesore into its doorway to connect the 2,290 acre Bedford Reservation to the Emerald Necklace,” Schiffman said.
The Village wanted to protect this beautiful gateway to nature for generations to
come, and so they asked the WRLC for help. The park will be owned and maintained by the Village of Glenwillow. The land is now permanently protected under a conservation easement held by WRLC that allows the property to only be used for passive recreation, such as bird-watching or hiking.
“It’s exciting when taking down a single house has such a tremendous impact,” said Cuyahoga Land Bank, Manager of Special Projects and Land Reuse, Lilah Zautner. “Knowing that people will be able to enjoy the beauty of Tinkers Creek because of this project – is a fantastic feeling!”