Garfield Park Pond Restoration and Program Center
This project includes the restoration of a historic pond, enhancements to streams and wetlands, new trails and the addition of a new education and recreation program facility. The project will pay homage to the nearly 130-year-old park, increase recreational and educational opportunities for visitors, and improve the ecological health of the reservation and Mill Creek watershed.
Two separate $1 million donations from Ohio CAT and the Brown and Kunze Foundation, along with several other family foundations and individuals, and support from Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s (NEORSD) Stormwater Management Reimbursement Fund and Ohio EPA Section 319 are making this transformative project possible. The restoration of the historic two-acre pond will include enhancements to Wolf Creek, new trails, and improved ecological health for the reservation and Mill Creek watershed. The restored pond will be a hub for youth "Try-It" watersports including kayaking, fishing, and stand-up paddle boarding.
The new Garfield Park Program Center will be a one-story, above grade, year-round reservable amenity for the public and park guests. The new structure is projected to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certified. LEED certification offers environmental and health benefits such as saving money on operational costs, reducing energy use & carbon emissions, and achieving Cleveland Metroparks Mission and Core Goals.
The project will return recreational opportunities to the reservation lost a half century ago and turn Garfield Park Reservation into a hub for Cleveland Metroparks Outdoor Recreation programs as well as its Youth Outdoors program that strives to meet the needs of youth living in or near the City of Cleveland.
Pond and Stream Restoration Stats:
Project Type: Ecological Restoration and Site Improvement
Completion Date: Fall 2023
Contact: Sean McDermott, Chief Planning & Design Officer, 216-635-3258 or
[email protected]
Project Size: 2 acre pond, Wolf Creek ecological stream restoration
Contracting Partner(s): Nerone & Sons, Inc.
Consulting Partner(s): GPD Group, EnviroScience, Inc.
Program Center Stats:
Project Type: Reservation Capital Project
Estimated Completion Date: Fall 2024
Contact: Sean McDermott, Chief Planning & Design Officer, 216-635-3258 or
[email protected]
Project Size: 2,233 sq. ft. Program Center
Contracting Partner(s): Schirmer Construction, LLC
Consulting Partner(s): GPD Group, Osborn Engineering
Partners:
- Ohio EPA
- Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD)
- Ohio CAT Construction Equipment
- Brown and Kunze Foundation
- Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
History of Garfield Pond
Garfield Park Reservation has been a popular destination for the surrounding community since it became a public park in 1894. The park formerly featured two ponds, first built in the early 1900s, that served as a year-round destination for family activities including fishing, row boating and ice skating. However, the construction boom of the 1950s and 1960s led to sediment build up in Wolf Creek (a tributary to Mill Creek), deteriorating the health of the creek and filling the ponds, and the recreational and educational opportunities that had drawn generations of families to the park were diminished.
Remnants of the historic park, including stone bridges, stairs and walls can be seen among Garfield Park’s 223 acres of streams, woods, open meadows, and recreational areas. The stone walls constructed in the 1940s is the only evidence of the former ponds.
