Robert and Harriet Black

Donor: Christopher Black
Tree Species: Swamp White Oak

Cleveland Metroparks gratefully acknowledges Christopher Black for his contribution to the Legacy Fund. This gift supports reforestation in Cleveland Metroparks now and in the future.

Robert “Blackie” Black and Harriet “Honey” Black were frequent visitors to Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation. Robert and Harriet often brought their son Christopher to the park on summer Sunday mornings. Robert cooked breakfast over a charcoal fire with a cast iron frying pan. After breakfast, the family crossed the road to Sunset Pond where Robert would help Christopher identify the duck species that inhabited the pond. On some of these Sunday mornings or an occasional summer evening the family met Robert’s brother Leonard and his wife La Vern for breakfast or a picnic dinner. In addition to summer picnics, the Black family used the park throughout the year. In the fall they enjoyed the fall color and acorns. In the winter, they used sleds and toboggans and cross country skis on the trails. Later in life Robert and Harriet, bought a house in Willoughby Hills, across the street from North Chagrin Reservation so they would be closer to the park they loved.