That's better.
Spring has proceeded in fits and starts this year in Northeast Ohio. Rain followed by sun followed--I'm not kidding, this was just last week--a freeze alert. I had to scrape the ice off my car window that morning only to drive with the same window down later in the day only to roll it back up again when a thunderstorm passed by. Mother Nature is clearly into mind games. Nevertheless, there's been a few days where spring actually remained for a full 24-hours, and on those days, when I had the time, I took full advantage of the Cleveland Metroparks system.
Nicknamed the Emerald Necklace, the Metroparks is a series of nature preserves, some 25,000 acres, found not only or even mostly in the city of Cleveland itself, but throughout the suburbs as well, most of the parks, or reservations, linked by a parkway, allowing for a nice bicycle ride or drive in the country, as long as you stay on the parkway and don't make any lefts or rights onto a main road. I'll show what I mean in one moment, but first a few beads in that aforementioned necklace:
Ah, wilderness! How it does a person good to commune with nature and leave the demands of modernity behind. Though not as far behind as you may think, for just a few minutes' drive from any of these bucolic locations, you'll find sights such as these:
I'm not showing these pictures with the intent of making developers, investors, and other capitalist types feel guilty (I'm not sure that's even possible) but to demonstrate why the Metropark system is such a treasure. As Cuyahoga Country becomes developed and overdeveloped, it does a soul good knowing that there may be a pastoral getaway just off the main thoroughfare. What I find ironic is to what extent the history of the Metroparks precedes so much of that development. It was a getaway before anything really needed getting away from.
...Industrial Revolution wasn't going to stay confined to the city of Cleveland for long. If not the factories themselves...
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| William A Stinchcomb |
Hello Kirk, I'll second you as to the quality and enjoyability of the Cleveland Metroparks, and in thanking Mr. Stinchcomb. Growing up, we used to walk to the Euclid Creek Reservation every day we could, even though it wasn't that close. Later I lived not far from the South Chagrin Reservation, which contained Squaw Rock as a focal point, even though it was not the easiest of hikes to get there (unless you came directly through the Chagrin River). When guests came, we often took them to North Chagrin Reservation, where Squire's Castle was a great photo opportunity. Also, Garfield Park predated the entire system, and there still are some 19th century vestiges present.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry too much about the feelings of developers. Your photos and maps will only make them realize that they missed a few spots.
--Jim
Will, Jim, I take it you grew up on the East Side, whereas I'm a West Sider. The land that eventually became the Rocky River and Mill Steam Run reservation was among the first parcels purchased by the Metroparks, some time around 1920. Although I've been to most of the other reservations, the RR and MSR are the ones I know the best, and the ones the photos are all from. The East Side tends to be more developed than the West Side, and maybe that was true, or started becoming true, in 1920, and so there was just more land available on the West Side. I've lived close to the Metroparks all my life, and currently reside only minutes away (by car) from both Bonnie Park and Wallace Lake, if you're familiar with those areas. West and East meets just beyond Brecksville (usually thought of as, despite its obviously eastern location, a West Side suburb because it sits on the West Bank of the Cuyahoga River, a river that refuses to neatly divide the county in two but instead careens eastward, thus throwing traditional notions of East and West out the window.) Also, though it's not indicated on the map I have here, from Brecksville you can drive right into The Cuyahoga Valley National Park (The Cuyahoga Valley Recreational Area when I was growing up) whereas one finds, among other things, a section of the Erie Canal.
DeleteI looked at the map again and Brecksville's eastern location is not so obvious, after all. You can make the argument that geographically it is indeed in the west part of the county, though just barely. It would be so much easier if the county was square-shaped, which of course it's not.
DeleteWell done that boy. As you said, the park is an absolute treasure ands as happened here, with some with great foresight, large tracts of land near the city were set aside for parks.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I'm thinking that any place that has a set aside wilderness abutting an urban area, had their own version of William A Stinchcomb.
Deletep.s. I never looked at it closely before, but the Metroparks' logo is kind of ugly and dated looking. It would work better as a product trademark for Soylent Green. --Jim
ReplyDeleteJim, as far as I know the logo hasn't changed since the 1970s.
DeleteWhen Soylent Green came out, now that I think about it.
DeleteIt is quite wonderful that these nature reserves are close at hand to inject a little calm into the madness of everyday life. Stinchcomb was indeed a visionary.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I do worry that someone one day may take these nature reserves away. That would be madness.
DeleteExceptional photos, old and new. The parks are a treasure. Bless Stinchcomb!
ReplyDeleteThat's my goal with this post, Mitchell.
DeleteWhat a beautiful and evocative name -- "the Emerald Necklace!" And yes, Stinchcomb was a visionary when one was needed and deserves all the acclaim he is accorded. The citizens of Cleveland owe him a great debt of gratitude! Enjoy your Forest Bathing in these troubled times, Kirk!
ReplyDeleteFunny you say Forest Bathing, Debra. Because of its large number of trees, Cleveland once was nicknamed the "Forest City". Later, Forest City became a name of a local chain of hardware and auto part stores. These days, Forest City is the name of a company that develops real estate, which no doubt involves the chopping down of forests not set aside as parks.
DeleteWilderness indeed! Great photos. Imagine all the wildlife! Well Kirk, your weather that day sounds like Scottish weather...we get 4 seasons in one day. It's an on going joke here! The weather cannot make up its mind!
ReplyDeleteThings are so different now eh.
Ananka, the joke here is what follows two days of rain in Cleveland? Monday.
DeleteA view of Cleveland we rarely see. In the words of the immortal Oil Can Boyd after a Red Sox vs. Indians game was canceled because of fog “that’s what you get when you build a stadium next to the ocean”
ReplyDeleteThey actually canceled a game because of fog, Ruby. I didn't know that, but there's plenty of rain delays.
DeleteBeautiful photos. I love parks and nature reserves. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete