News & Events . . . . . . . . . . . .
Advisory Committee Meeting
TBA
Friends of the Crooked River and Cuyahoga RAP
RiverDay 2013
BIG CREEK: HISTORIC LOWER BIG CREEK VALLEY TOUR
Saturday, May 18, 2013
1:00–2:30 PM [Download Flyer]
Discover Big Creek’s history hidden under the Pearl Road (Brooklyn-Brighton) Bridge. Learn about two of Cleveland's earliest settlements and adjoining industry. View historic bridge remnants; examine architecture, review historic full-color maps. Learn about the Greenway Plan for the valley. Refreshments. Meet: Parking lot behind Sal's Restaurant, 3850 Pearl Road. Contact: Bob Gardin, bgardin@friendsofbigcreek.org, 216-269-6472. Sponsored by Friends of Big Creek and Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation.
15th Annual Big Creek Watershed Clean Up
Saturday, June 1, 2013
9 AM-Noon [Download flyer]
Four locations:
• Brookfield Park, Brookfield Ave. (Off W. 130th)
• Brooklyn City Fire Station (8400 Memphis – Brooklyn, OH)
• Snow Road Picnic Area along Big Creek Parkway
• Archmere Park, W. 41 Street & Archmere
Rain Barrel Workshop
Wednesday, June 27, 2013
6:00-7:30 PM
Brooklyn Veterans Memorial Park (upper) Grand Pavilion (behind City Hall)
7619 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn 44144
Each workshop participant will construct a rain barrel to take home. A barrel, downspout diverter and all materials are included. Cost: $60.
$20 for extra barrel
(diverter not included). To Register: Contact Amy Roskilly 216/524-6580, ext 22.
Sponsored by Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, City of Brooklyn, FOBC. [Download event flyer]
Cleveland Metroparks Brookstock
Saturday, July 20, 2013
4-8 PM
Brookside Reservation - Brookside Valley Event site off John Nagy Blvd and Ridge Rd, Cleveland 44144
Fantastic summer open-air music. This year features music from Latin cultures. Vendors, food, beer tent. Free family fun. Visit the FOBC tent!
Media coverage
"I Did It: Created a watershed group for Big Creek; Small acts for Big Creek," GreenCityBlueLake, February, 2013.
"Friends of Big Creek bring native plants to Parma High," Jack Marschall (Jack's Corner), January 10, 2013, Parma Sun Post.
"Preserving the past, preserving the future: Historical home being restored, sold to preserve Big Creek land," July 17, 2011, by Jaime Anton, The Post.
"Preservation group rehabbing historical North Royalton home on Ridge Road," July 7, 2011, by Sara Macho, Sun News.
"Brooklyn Big Creek Watershed Clean Up turns into fun for volunteers and boy scouts," June 11, 2011, by Mark Holan, Sun News.
"Hikers explore Parma conservation area: West Creek Committee, city share ownership after purchase from Busch family."
Parma Sun Post 05/05/2011 by Mark Holan
"Brook Park considers plan to improve Big Creek watershed"
Sun News 12/02/2010 by Ken Baka
"Parma should preserve land, add storm water detention at Parmatown, study says"
Sun News 11/19/2010 by Bob Sandrick (This article appeared in the 11/18/2010 print issue as "Watershed study challenges Big Creek planners."
"Parma Heights passes resolution for balanced growth initiative"
Sun News 11/16/2010 by Mark Holan
"Group is promoting a cleaner watershed."
Feature article about FOBC by Ken Baka in the Parma
Sun Post 9/24/2009.
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) Watershed Grant
NEORSD recognizes that watershed organizations play an
important role in helping local governments and residents
address flooding, erosion, and water quality concerns through innovative
stormwater management practices, and stream and wetland restoration,
and that this work compliments the NEORSD's commitment to clean
water and supports the goals of the Stormwater
Management Program. NEORSD further recognizes the funding challenges
faced by watershed organizations. To address this issue and in an
effort to build and grow organizations' capabilities, NEORSD instituted
a competitive Watershed
Grant Program to provide support for staffing
and operating costs of qualified watershed organizations.
FOBC is
proud to announce qualification and receipt of a Watershed Grant
for the third year under this program. We are pleased to be a project
partner in this program and look forward to contributing to NEORSD's
goals for sustainable stormwater management and infrastructure solutions.
Acceptance of the The Big Creek Greenway Trail Alignment and Neighborhood
Connector Plan by the Brooklyn City Council.
April 13, 2009
Brooklyn
Sun article [pdf]
Big
Creek Greenway Trail Plan
Master Plan Report
February 2009 - prepared by the Floyd Browne Group [17.4MB pdf ]
Appendix A - Development Guidelines [pdf]
Appendix B - Master Plan Maps
[15.8MB pdf]
Appendix C - Parcel Ownership
Maps [pdf]
Appendix D - Cost Estimates
[pdf]
Appendix E - Frequently Asked
Trail Questions [pdf]
Adoption of the Lower Big Creek Valley
Greenway Redevelopment & Restoration
Plan by the Cleveland City Planning Commission
February 6, 2009
Thanks to all the contributing partners and all who have stood in
support of this plan that is so important to Cleveland,
the Brooklyn Centre and Old Brooklyn neighborhoods, and to the Big
Creek watershed. The plan will be added to the update of the city master
plan
(Connecting Cleveland 2020 Citywide Plan). It is a major step toward
the next phases: funding, engineering, construction
and more.
Lower Big Creek Valley Greenway Redevelopment & Restoration
Plan
prepared by Floyd Browne Group in association with schmidtcopelandparkerstevens,
June 2008. Project partners: Cleveland Metroparks, City of Cleveland,
Ohio Canal Corridor, Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation.
The plan presents "a new vision for the Valley Greenway. The
creation of this vision incorporates detailed future land use, public
access, infrastructure, ecological restoration and environmental regeneration,
open space and trail linkages and economic development concepts."
Download
report [pdf]. Please note large file size - 79MB. For faster
viewing, download specific sections:
Section
One: 1. Introduction; 2. Valley Resources; 3. Public Involvement;
4. Trail Route Alternatives; 5. Trail & Greenway Concept (Upland
& Valley Trail Descriptions (19MB)
Section
Two: 7. Environmental Regeneration Efforts; 8. Suggested Land
Use Changes (Camping Site, Adventure Sports Site, Harshaw Chemical
Site, Ecological Restoration - Henninger Landfill, Martin Enterprises
Aggregates, Brookside Auto Recycling Yard); 8. Priorities & Next
Steps; 9. Funding Strategies (34MB)
Appendix
A - Development Guidelines (384K)
Appendix
B - Master Plan Maps (27MB)
Appendix
C - Cost Estimate (230K)
Appendix
D - Public Meetings (160K)
Study grants:
August 10, 2007 - Trail Alignment Study - TLCI Grant awarded
FOBC and project partners were awarded funding for a feasibility study
to connect the Cleveland Metroparks Brookside and Big Creek Reservations
with a trail alignment through the City of Brooklyn. FOBC, Cleveland
Metroparks, and the cities of Cleveland and Parma join the City of
Brooklyn as co-sponsors for the $75,000 study ($60,000 grant with
a $15,000 local match) funded by the federal Transportation for Livable
Communities Initiative (TLCI) grant program.
The Big Creek Greenway Trail Alignment and Neighborhood Connector
Plan will examine potential linkages with surrounding neighborhoods
as well as Brooklyn municipal/office/retail areas. The all purpose
trail network will provide a safe alternative mode of transportation
for its users and identify opportunities for interpretive exhibits
and ecological restoration.
- Brooklyn Sun Journal Aug.
23, 2007 [pdf]
- FOBC News release [pdf]
May 7, 2007 - Watershed Management Plan - CMAG Grant awarded
Big Creek watershed communities of Brooklyn, Parma, Parma Heights,
Brook Park, and the southwest wards of Cleveland partner with FOBC
and the Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) to develop a comprehensive
community plan for the Big Creek Watershed. The RAP was awarded a
$20,000 (with 50% local match) Ohio Coastal Management Assistance
Grant to develop the first phase of a Watershed Management Plan—data
collection and analysis of information for Watershed Inventory, Assessment
and Problem Definition.
- Coastal Management Assistance Grants award news release: www.ohiodnr.com/news/may07/0522coastalgrants.htm
- FOBC
news release [pdf]
Old Brooklyn News June
2008 [pdf 8.6MB]
Archive coverage in the Sun News:
Brooklyn Sun Journal Dec.
8, 2005 "Towpath, park links eyed"
Brooklyn Sun Journal Dec.
29, 2005 "City will not use eminent domain to create bike
trail"
Brooklyn Sun Journal Apr.
27, 2006 "Group helps protect Big Creek"
Brooklyn Sun Journal Jul.
20, 2006 "'Friends' explore city's 'Kingdom' for trail links"
Conceptual plans for proposed trail alignments
Recent FOBC Events . . .
. . . . . . . .
Earthday activities -
April 21, 2013 at:
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's
Party for the Planet
Earthday Coalition
EarthFest 2013
Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds
Parma Safety Fair
April 27, 2013
Parma Justice Center, 5555 Powers Blvd.
Big Creek Watershed Balanced Growth Partnership Meeting
October 24, 2012
Brooklyn Senior Community Center
Big Creek Watershed Balanced Growth Community representatives learned about Big Creek and other Balanced Growth Plans throughout the State of Ohio, and State Incentives being offered to the Balanced Growth communities, how we are currently implementing major aspects of the plan. Also discussed was ways to refine and better implement the plan as we strive to achieve more balanced growth within the Big Creek watershed communities.
Agenda:
Welcome: Honorable Richard H. Balbier, Mayor of the City of Brooklyn
Ohio Balanced Growth Program: Gail Hesse, Executive Director, Ohio Lake Erie Commission
Big Creek Watershed Balanced Growth Plan: Bob Gardin, Co-founder and Project Manager, Friends of Big Creek, George Remias, Project consultant, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Regional Stormwater Management Program: Frank Greenland, Director of Watershed Programs, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Refining and more effectively implementing the Big Creek Plan: Kirby Date, Program Manager, The Community Planning Program, Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
Public Meeting
Big Creek Water Quality Monitoring and Control: 1969 – Present
September 27, 2012
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Reinberger Education Center
DETAILS...
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & Friends of Big Creek
18th Annual Big Creek Clean Up
August 14, 2012
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo [Flyer]
Hosted by Resouce Management Committee (The Zoo’s “Green Team”, Partners: Zoo & Cleveland Metroparks Volunteers, Aramark Catering, Friends of Big Creek, local community members.
BrookStock - A Celebration of Music & Nature
July 21, 2012
Metroparks
Brookside Reservation
This year at the FOBC tent we featured crafts from recycled objects.
Volunteers helped pick up stream side trash at
Brookfield Park – Brookfield Ave., (between Bellaire and W. 130th) and
Brooklyn City Fire Department (8400 Memphis Ave – Brooklyn, OH) [Download flyer]
Sun News covered the Brooklyn "Oxbow" Clean Up
Greater Cleveland Trails & Greenways Conference
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Civic Center, Independence
Details...
Historic Lower Big Creek Valley Tour
RiverDay 2012
Saturday, May 19
Hikers learned about two of Cleveland's earliest settlements and adjoining industry along Big Creek, under the Pearl Road (Brooklyn-Brighton) Bridge, viewing historic bridge remnants, architecture, historic full-color maps. They also learned about the Greenway Plan for the valley. FOBC's "Pop under Pearl" during the 2nd annual Pop UP Pearl - Complete Street Fair. Sponsored by Friends of Big Creek and Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation.
Our first riparian reforestation
TREE PLANTING EVENT
April 28, 2012
at BROOKLYN MEMORIAL PARK, behind Brooklyn City Hall.
Cuyahoga ReLeaf®, the new initiative by the Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization (CRCPO) aims to restore forest cover to areas throughout the watershed in order to shade streams, reduce erosion, capture and store surface runoff and increase habitat for aquatic wildlife.
Forest cover is the most extensive, efficient, and least expensive tool we have to manage stormwater, stabilize soils, provide habitat, clean the air and reduce nutrient runoff into streams. We know that streams protected and nurtured in wooded areas are the highest quality streams in the watershed. But we've lost, and are still losing, vast tracts of tree canopy to development and pests. Emerald Ash Borer is killing host trees by the hundreds, so we're helping nature out by planting young trees that will grow to replace lost ash trees, and shrubs and grasses to re-vegetate streamsides.
Over the past few months, with funding from OhioEPA and the Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF,), CRCPO held mapping workshops for communities to identify target locations for restoration. Now, with help from Friends of Big Creek, the City of Brooklyn, ODNR's regional urban forester and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding from the U.S. Forest Service, we planted a healthy new riparian buffer on a stretch of Stickney Creek, a tributary to Big Creek.
Prairie Planting -
Cleveland Metroparks Brookside Reservation
April 14, 2012
[flyer]
Volunteers joined the Cleveland Metroparks staff and Zoo Crew teen volunteers to plant native Ohio prairie plants and install a wood-chip trail at the site. This restored Ohio prairie habitat is also a Certified Monarch Way Station that provides important habitat for butterflies and other native wildlife.
Download invitation [pdf]
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Administration Building Auditorium
Our urban forests are at risk. Yet healthy urban forests are the ultimate in green infrastructure – the most extensive and least expensive way to help attenuate stormwater runoff, increase property values and protect streams.
The Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan (RAP), with support from the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Friends of Big Creek and the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, is helping enhance forest cover in our communities.
Participants:
- Received updated maps of their city’s forest cover and streams
- Helped identify priority restoration sites to target funding for restoration
- Learned about opportunities to attend Tree Commission Academy
- Received an inventory of their city’s forest, tree protection, mitigation and restoration ordinances and policies; cities are eligible for ongoing assistance in updating and implementing them
- Are eligible for funding and pilot restoration projects in your community
Rain barrel workshop at 3rd annual America Recycles Day
Cleveland Metropark
Zoo
November 13, 2011
Sponsors: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Friends of Big Creek
For Information about the Zoo’s America Recycles Day:
Recap
www.clemetzoo.com/events/event.asp?event_id=132
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRIRrcXcf
Special meeting of the Big Creek Partnership
November 2, 2011
Parma City Hall
We are pleased to announce that the Big Creek Watershed Balanced Growth Plan has received State Endorsement from the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. [NEWS RELEASE]
In honor of this accomplishment, the Commission, Friends of Big Creek, and the Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization held a special meeting of the Big Creek Partnership. John Watkins, Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management, offered congratulations and presented certificates to the mayors of Brooklyn, Brook Park, Cleveland, Parma, and Parma Heights, recognizing the five Big Creek watershed cities of the Partnership as an Ohio Balanced Growth Community. OLEC Director Gail Hesse briefly discussed program incentives and future goals for the Ohio Balanced Growth Program.
Thanks to the City of Parma for hosting this special event and thanks to all who attended.
Back row L to R: Richard Balbier, Mayor of Brooklyn; Dean DePiero, Mayor of Parma
Front row L to R: Gail Hesse, OLEC Executive Director; Mark Elliott, Mayor of Brook Park; Michael Byrne, Mayor of Parma Heights; Darnell Brown, Chief Operating Officer for the City of Cleveland representing Mayor Jackson; Bob Gardin, FOBC Project Manager; Sandra Kosek-Sills, OLEC Environmental Specialist/Balanced Growth Coordinator, John Watkins, Chief of ODNR Office of Coastal Management
Public Meeting and Presentation
September 27, 2011
Presentation and discussion about FOBC’s ongoing watershed restoration, conservation and trail initiatives.
Download event flyer
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & Friends of Big Creek
Big Creek Clean Up
August 9, 2011
47 volunteers helped clean up Big Creek in Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Brookside Reservation and a tributary ravine across Wildlife Way. Friends of Big Creek, members of the community, and Zoo Crew Volunteers joined a team of Zoo staff in hauling metals, plastics, tires, and other assorted trash out of Big Creek. The Zoo’s Service Maintenance recycled a whopping 1,600 lbs. of scrap metal (which amounts to ca. $200 for the Zoo’s general recycling fund). Also recycled was one bag each of plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass in addition to removing about 20 bags of trash. Thanks to ARAMARK for the complimentary pizzas and beverages for volunteers. And thankfully, volunteers completed the task in time to safely dodge a BIG hail storm that evening!
BrookStock - A Celebration of Music & Nature
July 23, 2011
Metroparks
Brookside Reservation
13th Annual Big Creek Watershed Cleanup
June 4, 2011
Locations -
Cleveland: Brookfield Park, Brookfield Avenue (Between Bellaire & W. 130th)
Brooklyn: "Oxbow" area north of Brooklyn Fire Station, 8400 Memphis Avenue; Stickney Creek east of Ridge Road. Event flyer
"Brooklyn Big Creek Watershed Clean Up turns into fun for volunteers and boy scouts," June 11, 2011, by Mark Holan, Sun News.
Sponsored by: Friends of Big Creek; Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District; Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District; Cleveland Metroparks; City of Brooklyn; City of Cleveland;
Bellaire-Puritas Development Corporation, Longmead-McGowan Connection; West Park Community Council; City of Cleveland Departments of Public Works; Public Service;
Public Utilities; Division of Water Pollution Control; Streets; Waste Collection and Disposal
RiverDay 2011
May 21, 2011
Big Creek: Tour the Brooklyn "Oxbow"
An enthusiastic group explored forest, shale slopes and wetlands where Big Creek meandered before I-71 was constructed. Brooklyn Mayor Richard Balbier welcomed the group, Tom Romito, Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, and Brooklyn Boy Scout Troup 319, explorers and stewards of the area, led the way. Sponsored by Friends of Big Creek and the City of Brooklyn.
Pop UP Pearl - Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation
May 21, 2011
Pearl Road in downtown Old Brooklyn
Pop UP Pearl, a grassroots event during Cleveland Bike Week, featured a demonstration complete street, pop-up shops to activate vacant storefronts, public art features, live music and local vendors.
See Proceedings from this event...
Invasive Plant Removal Event
February 13, 2011
Nearly 50 volunteers met at the Brookside Valley Event Site in Brookside Reservation to "snap" some porcelain berry vines so that native plants can have a better chance to bloom come spring. The area is located along a butterfly monitoring path, and native plants help support our important pollinators. Afterwards, volunteers enjoyed cozy, complimentary HOT chocolate, HOT chili and HOT dogs compliments of FOBC!
Cleveland Metroparks in partnership with Friends of Big Creek.
See photos on the Roar Report Metroparks Zoo blog.
[Download event flyer]
Rain barrel workshop at 2nd annual America Recycles Day
Cleveland Metropark
Zoo
November 2010
Sponsors: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Friends of Big Creek
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRIRrcXcf
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & Friends of Big Creek
Big Creek Clean Up
August 24, 2010
FOBC
and the Zoo’s Resource Management
Committee send a BIG THANKS to the 45 volunteers
who helped to clean up the Zoo’s watershed. Members of
our local community, Friends of Big Creek, Zoo Volunteers, and Zoo
Crew joined a team of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo staff in hauling metals,
plastics, tires, and other assorted trash out of Big Creek. Service
Maintenance recycled a whopping 1,660 lbs. of scrap
metal, which totaled $132.75 for the General Recycling Fund. Special
thanks to Donatos and ARAMARK and for the complimentary pizza and
beverages for our volunteers. Among the “fun” finds
were a vintage clock, a guard rail, a manhole cover and a naked Barbie
doll! Many thanks to all for a job well done!
Nature Tours of Treadway Creek Trail
July 17, 2010
Harmody Park
FOBC led informative hikes on the trail with focus on the development/restoration
efforts as related to the environmental aspects of the site.
Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration & Trail
With the Treadway Creek trail construction, a 2/3 mile all-purpose
passage through the natural ravine, Old Brooklyn became the first
neighborhood in Cleveland with a direct connection to the Ohio & Erie
Canal Towpath Trail. In addition, 21 acres of prime riparian corridor,
wooded ravine and open space were restored and preserved. Learn
more at http://oldbrooklyn.com/Treadway/treadway.html
Held in conjunction with
BrookStock - A Celebration of Music & Nature
July 17, 2010
Metroparks Brookside Reservation
Rain Barrel Workshop – Stearns
Farm, Parma.
July 7, 2010
Rain Barrel Workshop – Brooklyn
City Hall, Brooklyn.
June 30, 2010
Greater Cleveland Trails
& Greenways Conference
June 7, 2010
Southwest General Health Center
& Polaris Career Center, Middleburg Heights. See: GCtrails.org
Evening Public session at Polaris: Happy Trails & Healthy
People Guided trail walks, free health screenings, live music.
Celebrate American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® with
us! See: www.gctrails.org/public.htm
12th Annual Big Creek Clean-up
June 5, 2010
2 locations: Brookfield Park - Brookfield Avenue in Cleveland and Cleveland
Metroparks Snow Road Picnic Area - Parma Heights / Parma Download
flyer
RiverDay – Big Creek: Where the Waters
Meet
May 15, 2010
Big Creek at its confluence with the
Cuyahoga. Cleveland City Councilman Brian Cummins, FOBC Project Manager
Bob Gardin and Domokur Architects’ Mike
Kannard explained studies and plans for all-purpose trails and other
enhancements to the area.
Big Creek – Chevy Branch Restoration Tour
May 12, 2010
A stop on the Northeast Ohio Watershed Council's 2010 Restoration Tours
of natural and innovative projects designed to address flooding,
erosion, and water quality problems. NEOwatersheds.org
Stormwater
Problems Are Real...
... and so are the solutions
March 24, 2010
Presented by the Northeast Ohio
Watershed Council
Flooding, erosion, and water quality problems are a reality for our
communities.
Solving these problems can be difficult since stormwater runoff from
one community drains into another; crossing political boundaries. A
comprehensive “watershed approach” to stormwater is the
best answer to these challenges; what is being done in Northeast Ohio.
Download event
flyer [pdf]
Joint Public Meeting with Brooklyn Centre Naturalists
See Proceedings from this event.
James Ford Rhodes High School:
"Studying Water Chemistry, Biological Diversity and Sources of Pollution
Through
Field Work in the Big Creek Watershed."
Earth Science Teacher James Gazda and students
Valley Forge High School:
"Integrating Ecology, Chemistry, Biology, and Art Curricula with On-Site
School Wetland."
Biology Teacher Jon Komar and students
URBAN WETLAND TOURS 2009
As
a follow-up to our September 2008 Urban
Wetlands Symposium, FOBC scheduled tours of the five model projects
highlighted in the symposium plus one potential restoration area
and one high quality rural wetland.
Details...
- August 27
Nine Mile Creek Stormwater Retrofit Project
- September 3
Valley Forge High School Courtyard Wetland
- September 10
Brooklyn Oxbow Area - potential wetland restoration sites
- September 14
Tinkers Creek Headwaters - high quality wetland and vernal pools
- September 22
Cleveland Metroparks Vernal Pool Enhancement Project
Brookside Reservation
- September 28
Puritas Wetland Project
- October 5
West Creek Reservation Created Wetland
Burning River Fest 2009
August 15, 2009
Historic Coast Guard Station at the mouth of the
Cuyahoga River on Whiskey Island
Big Creek Clean Up
August 19, 2009
Friends of Big Creek joined with Metroparks
and Aramark staff and volunteers, their friends & families, and
community volunteers to help clean up Big Creek which runs directly
through the Zoo and Brookside Reservation. See info from the 2008
cleanup below.
Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation and Walk+Roll
All-Access Home and Bicycle Tour
July 18, 2009
Cleveland Metroparks
Brookstock - A Celebration of Music & Nature
July 18, 2009
BIG CREEK RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP
June 11, 2009
Stearns Homestead Farm, Parma, Ohio
Our first rain barrel workshop sold out!
August 20, 2009
Brooklyn
Our rain barrel workshops were held in collaboration with
the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District. Thanks to all
participants and to Amy Roskilly, Conservation Education Coordinator,
Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District. To find out about
future workshops, contact Amy at 216-524-6580, ext. 22.
11th Annual Big Creek Watershed Cleanup
June 6, 2008
Three locations: In addition to the Brookfield/Chevy Branch Bellaire-Puritas
site, we targeted the Parma/Parma Heights stretch of the Big Creek
Reservation from Brookpark Road to Stumph Road. From the Snow Road
Picnic Area, participants worked north to Stumph Road and south
to Brookpark Road.
We also targeted areas along the main and west branches of Big Creek
within the City of Brooklyn from a staging area in the Memphis Picnic
Area.
RiverDay 2009 -
Big Creek: Where the Waters Meet
May 16, 2009
Attendees discovered the hidden beauty of Big Creek at its confluence
with the Cuyahoga River. Cleveland City Councilman Brian Cummins, Ohio
Canal
Corridor’s Tim Donovan, and Domokur Architects’ Mike Kannard
discussed planning underway to enhance the area and connect it with all-purpose
trails from the Towpath Trail to the Metroparks Zoo and beyond. FOBC's
Jim Gazda demonstrated water quality testing procedures and explained
creek monitoring projects in Rhodes High School environmental science
instruction.
Puritas Wetlands Planting
May 15, 2009
Volunteers helped enhance and preserve our unique urban
wetland by planting native plant species.
Big Creek Watershed Management Plan Meeting
October 28, 2008
Parma Heights City Hall - Council Chambers
Agenda summary:
- Chevy Branch Restoration Case Study- by WPC and NEORSD
- Finalizing Preservation Sites
- Identifying Stormwater Retrofit Locations
-- Dry Stormwater Basins
-- Large Parking Lot Retrofits
-- Highway Right-of-Ways
-- Stormwater Storage below Outfalls, etc.
September
24, 2008
Urban Wetlands Symposium
Valuing, prioritizing and protecting wetlands.
Progress reports on current urban wetland projects in the Cleveland
area.
Details...
September 13, 2008
Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District
59th Annual Meeting and Conservation Day
Euclid Creek Reservation
Bob Gardin, Friends of Big Creek Chair, received the Conservationist
of the Year Award; FOBC member Councilman Sean Brennan, Parma City
Council was recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation
Holding
awards: at left, Bob Gardin;
at right, Sean Brennan
Big Creek Watershed Management Plan Meeting 4
August 26, 2008
Brook Park City Hall
The goal of this meeting was to summarize work to date. Also discussed
were site specific areas (i.e. greenspace) in each community. Because
how we strategize and manage these remnant greenspaces is a quality
of life issue for each city, input is critical to ensure that these
areas are understood, well managed and appreciated. Eventually, they
will be prioritized for preservation, restoration and to leverage funding
dollars. Details of the Chevy Branch Restoration Project Case Study
were presented by Tom Marsalis, Cleveland Division of Water Pollution
Control.
Big Creek Greenway Trail Alignment and Neighborhood Connector
Plan
Public Meeting 2
August 27, 2008
Brooklyn City Hall
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & Friends of Big
Creek
Big Creek Clean Up
August 13, 2008
Metroparks Zoo
60 Metroparks staff, volunteers, members of Friends of Big Creek and
employees of Alcoa and US Bank collected and recycled 2,100 lbs. (that's
1.05 tons) of rusty scrap metal, less than 100 bottles and cans, a
small pile of scrap wood, a few rusty lawn mowers and about 8 bags
of garbage! Also, a good dent was made in an invasive phragmities patch
in Brookside Reservation by cutting off the seed heads in preparation
for herbicide application.
FOBC tent at Brookstock - A Celebration of Music & Nature
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Brookside Valley Event Site
Big Creek Trail and Neighborhood Connector Plan
Public Meeting
June 25, 2008
Brooklyn City Hall
The City of Brooklyn and project partners are seeking public input
on the Big Creek Trail and Neighborhood Connector Plan. The study will
develop preferred alignments for a 3-mile all-purpose trail expansion
through the city that will seek to connect the Metroparks Zoo and Brookside
Reservation to the Big Creek Reservation south of Brookpark Road. It
will examine connecting parks, neighborhoods, civic and commercial
areas throughout the city while identifying opportunities for interpretive
exhibits and ecological restoration.
The $75,000 study is being funded by a $60,000 Federal Transportation
for Livable Communities Initiative grant program administered through
the Northeast Ohio Coordinating Agency with local matches from the
cities of Brooklyn, Cleveland and Parma, Cleveland Metroparks, and
Friends of Big Creek. For more information contact Donna Thompson,
City of Brooklyn at 216-635-4224.
Big Creek Watershed Management Plan Meeting 3
June 24, 2008
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Agenda Summary
Analysis of:
- Demographics
- Impervious Coverage
- Land Cover & Land Use
- Critical Natural Features by Large Tracts
- Survey to Rank Restoration Options
10th Annual Big Creek Watershed Cleanup
Big/Stickney Creek
June 7, 2008
Three locations:
- Archmere Park, Archmere Ave., west of State Rd.
- Brookfield Park, Brookfield Ave., between Bellaire & W. 130th
- NEW location in Brooklyn: Brookridge Elementary School, 4500 Ridge
Rd.
Big Creek Cleanup
May 28, 2008
Fern Hill Picnic Area (off Big Creek Parkway, just south of Brookpark
Road)
Big Creek stewards included City of Parma Council member Mary Galinas,
Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Friends of Big Creek
and members of the United Church of Christ
RiverDay 2008
May 17, 2008
Big Creek Event: Where the Waters Meet
Attendees discovered the hidden beauty of Big Creek at its confluence
with the Cuyahoga River and learned about planning underway to enhance
the area and connect it with all-purpose trails from the Towpath Trail
to the Metroparks Zoo and beyond.
Watershed Management Plan Meeting 2
April 29, 2008
Parma Senior Center
Presentations: Dan Meaney, Cuyahoga Co. Planning Commission - Natural
Resources of the Watershed; Chuck Hambly, project coordinator, from
the Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan - Big Creek characteristics
and water quality; Lester Stumpe, NEORSD, - the RIDE (Regional Intercommunity
Drainage Evaluation) Study. Representatives from the Big Creek watershed
communities broke into work groups to begin identifying key preservation/restoration
areas.
Meeting Dates
& Work Program [pdf]
Big Creek Watershed
Management Plan Fact Sheet for Communities [pdf]
Watershed
Management Plan Meeting 1
February 26, 2008
Brooklyn Senior-Community Center
Big Creek Watershed Management Plan introductory meeting. Representatives
from Big Creek watershed communities listen as Jim White from the Cuyahoga
River RAP explains the important features of watersheds and the effects
of urbanization. Participants will meet every other month through October
of 2008.
Informal Opening of Treadway Creek Greenway
December 1, 2007
Harmody Park/Treadway Creek Greenway Entrance
1700 Mayview Ave
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
The Treadway
Creek Greenway Restoration Project restores and preserves 21
acres of riparian corridor and open space, two-thirds of a mile long,
through conservation easements along Treadway Creek, a tributary
to the Cuyahoga River and part of the Lower Big Creek Valley watershed.
See photos at Flickr.
Public Meeting, Nov. 14, 2007
The Importance of Water Quality, Volunteer Monitoring Programs
& the Monitoring of Big Creek.
A joint presentation:
Steve Tuckerman, Ohio EPA Northeast District Office: "Monitoring
Big Creek and Ohio's Volunteer Monitoring Program"
Lindsey Barber, Kayla Giannetti, James Ford Rhodes High School: "Water
Quality Variations of Stickney Creek," results of a student investigation
of the water quality of Stickney Creek, a tributary of the Big Creek
Watershed. Students measured the temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity
and pH at several randomly selected sites along the creek. The project
was part of their Earth/Space science class with teacher James Gazda.
Public Meeting, Oct. 17, 2007
Presentation by Vern Hartenburg, Executive Director of Metroparks
The history of the Metroparks, its present and future in the community,
and opportunities working with its partners on the Big Creek trail
expansion studies.
Lower Big Creek Exploratory Hike, September 9,
2007
Metroparks/FOBC Zoo Clean-up, August 29, 2007
3rd Annual Summer Brooklyn Oxbow Hike, August 12, 2007
9th Annual Big Creek Clean-Up, June 9, 2007
This year volunteers "swept" through two areas:
Chevy Branch at Brookfield Park; Stickney Creek at Archmere Park.
17th Annual RiverDay, May 19, 2007
"Where the Waters Meet" - Confluence of Big Creek
and the Cuyahoga River
Again this year, participants toured the area of Big Creek
at its confluence with the Cuyahoga and learned about planning underway
to enhance the area and connect it with all-purpose trails from the
Towpath Trail to the MetroParks Zoo and beyond.
Ohio Canal Corridor Annual RiverSweep Cleanup,
May 12, 2007
Brookside Garlic Mustard Pull & Clean-up,
May 2007
EarthFest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, April
22, 2007 - Earth Day
Joint
Public Meeting with West Creek Preservation Committee, March 20,
2007
Presentations and discussion by and about both Watershed groups.
Second Annual Winter Hike: Brooklyn Oxbow, February 18, 2007
General Meeting, February 7, 2007
Lower Big Creek Update
City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks, and Old Brooklyn Community
Development Corporation representatives reported on the status of the
Lower Big Creek Greenway Redevelopment & Restoration project and
the EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant for the Lower Big Creek valley.
General
Meeting, November 29, 2006
Presentation by Elaine Marsh, Project Director, Ohio
Greenways
Open space projects are much more than aesthetically pleasing natural
areas where people can relax and exercise. Strategically selected and
properly designed, open space projects make up the green infrastructure
of a community. Green infrastructure is an interconnected network of
land and water that sustains air and water resources by maintaining
and enhancing natural ecological processes. These processes reduce
flooding and stormwater runoff, absorb air pollution, decrease erosion,
and increased the capacity of streams to take up toxins and other waste
products. Where public access has a role in the projects, green infrastructure
increases a community’s safety for pedestrians and bicyclists
and reduces the health risks of inactivity, a leading cause of premature
death. Elaine Marsh's presentation highlighted green infrastructure
benefits. It was packed with the latest research, illustrations, case
studies and stunning dollar values.
August 19, 2006
Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation Day and 57th Annual Meeting
Coe Lake Pavilion behind Berea City Hall
Friends of Big Creek information booth. FOBC Steering Committee members
Kim Swaggard-Svec and James Gazda, teachers in 2005-2006 at James Ford
Rhodes High School were awarded Educators of the Year Award and the
Roger Biemel Memorial Award.
Jan Rybka, District Administrator, presents awards.
July 15, 2006
2nd Annual Summer Brooklyn Oxbow Hike
May 31, 2006
Friends of Big Creek General Meeting
Brooklyn Senior/Community Center
FOBC presentation and discussion about related Big Creek Watershed
and expanded greenway issues.
June 3, 2006
8th Annual Big Creek Clean Up - Chevy Branch - pictures
at Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District
Brookfield Park - Brookfield Avenue (east off West 130th)
May 20, 2006
16th Annual RiverDay 2006
"Where the Waters Meet" - Confluence of Big Creek
and the Cuyahoga River
Tours started from Cudnik's Tavern parking, 3995 Jennings Road to explore
the hidden beauty of Big Creek at its confluence with the Cuyahoga.
Participants learned about planning underway to enhance the area and
connect it with all-purpose trails from the Towpath Trail to the MetroParks
Zoo and beyond.
Big Creek (left- looking upstream) at confluence with Cuyahoga River
(right - looking downstream)
More RiverDay information at Friends
of the Crooked River.
May
6, 2006
17th Annual RiverSweep
Treadway Creek Ravine/Big Creek clean-up
FOBC members, Rhodes High students and others met at Zeleznik's Tavern
on Jennings Road
FOBC's Greg Cznadel and Bob Gardin "sweep" Big Creek and
remove rubbish.
Earth Day - April 23, 2006
FOBC / Cuyahoga River RAP at EarthFest
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Winter
Valentine Hike - Brooklyn "Oxbow"
area
On
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006 30 hikers met at Brooklyn Memorial Park to discover
the "Oxbow/Kingdom" greenspace area, part of the potential
greenway connection between Brookside Park and the Big Creek Memphis
Reservation. Hot cocoa, hot dogs and sweet treats at the pavilion followed
the walk.
Cleveland
Metroparks Winterrific
FOBC exhibit at the Brookside Reservation Event Site
on the Jan. 21-22, 2006weekend.
Water Quality Investigative Survey
Brookside Reservation area - Jan. 15, 2006; followup - Jan. 30, 2006.
After an initial survey of the area of concern by FOBC members, Bob
Gardin, Jim Gazda and Dennis Petro were joined by Steve Tuckerman of
the Ohio EPA for waterquality sampling and testing. The samples pictured
show green algae, Chlamydamonas. The possibility of a CSO, combined
sewer overflow, is under consideration.
FOBC General Meeting, November 16, 2005
Presentation on the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway and
the Corridor Management Plan by Tim Donovan, Director of the Ohio Canal
Corridor.
Hike-Treadway
Creek
On Sunday, Oct. 16, 2005, nearly twenty hikers explored Old Brooklyn
neighborhood's newly funded trail alignment through the Treadway Ravine.
Bob Gardin gave an introduction to the project. Further details of
the plan were explained by Mike Kannard, Landscape Architect at Schmidt
Copeland Parker Stevens. Mike and Terry Greathouse, Professor of Biology
at Cuyahoga Community College shared their expertise on beneficial
vegetation and invasive species.
See the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation's
information on the Treadway
Creek Greenway Restoration Project.
FOBC General Meeting, September 21, 2005
The meeting featured a Lower Big Creek Study Update led by NOACA's
John Beeker. Progress of the planning strategies outlined in the
study were discussed, including the funded USEPA brownfield land
use study and the Redevelopment and Restoration Plan assessing the
feasibility of a direct connection between the Towpath Trail's Harvard
Avenue trailhead and the Metropark Zoo through the Lower Big Creek
Valley. Lower Big
Creek Planning Initiatives Summer 2005 Update (2.321MB pdf-14
pages)
Site Survey - Cascade Crossing Area
On Wednesday, Aug. 24th and Friday, Aug. 26th Steering and Advisory
Committee members (about 16 for both evenings) met at Cascade Crossing
at I-480 and Tiedeman Road. Led by Bob Gardin the following sites
were explored starting with Big Creek at Cascade Crossing: The I-480
entrance ramp, Big Creek as it flows past Hampton Hotel, a vacant
lot (Forest City), the Railroad Bridge over Big Creek and the surrounding
land, Big Creek next to Sam's Club, Big Creek to Brookpark Road and
the end of the Big Creek Parkway. Detailed
notes.
General Meeting, August 17, 2005
Paul Alsenas, Director of Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, gave
a presentation on the Cuyahoga County Greenspace Plan and how it
relates to the existing and potential Big Creek greenway. Visit the Cuyahoga
County Greenprint plan page for more information. Download an
audio version of this presentation: Pt.
1 (62MB) MP3 - Pt. 2 (45MB) MP3 .
These are very large files and will take some time to download. Not
recommeded for dial-up connections.
Successful
hikes in Brooklyn
Cuyahoga County's Tim McCormack, City of Brooklyn public
officials, and County and Cleveland Metroparks planners joined Friends
of Big Creek on Sunday, July 10, 2005 for a hike to Big Creek north
of the Memphis Road area in the City of Brooklyn.
More than 30 hikers examined the existing "Oxbow"
greenspace area and viewed the potential greenway connection between
Brookside Park and the Big Creek Memphis Reservation.
A repeat hike on Wednesday evening, August 10th, drew
26 hikers.
