The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. – John Muir
John Muir's inspiration for the above quote was his exploration of the wondrous Yosemite Valley. Muir's intent was to encourage people – no matter where they live – to immerse themselves in the peace of the natural world. Northeast Ohio is blessed with a wealth of green space which has been preserved in the Cleveland Metroparks. This system of parks, also known as the “emerald necklace,” was originally created for recreation and preservation, and it improves with each passing year.
Early in the twentieth century, Cleveland grew to be the great industrial city that birthed many of our most well known cultural institutions, which are still in existence today. While industry boomed, however, people began to recognize the invaluable assets that natural “green” areas provided for human recreation, enjoyment, health and mental restoration. The rise in industry also created a need to conserve these natural systems so that they would not fall victim to encroaching development. The distinctly American idea of national parks emerged with the preservation of vast stretches of wild lands in the west. Many large industrial cities of the east, such as Cleveland, mirrored this collective sentiment by creating systems of green spaces adjacent to existing residential areas.
The “emerald necklace” encircles Cleveland on three sides, with Lake Erie as the border to the north. The design was the inspiration of William Stinchcomb, a young, self-taught city engineer. Stinchcomb envisioned the concept of an outer chain of parks on rural land connected by broad graceful sweeps of paved boulevards. He cleverly enlisted the efforts of Frederick Law Olmsted as a consultant. A nationally renowned landscape designer, Olmsted had great enthusiasm for the relatively undisturbed natural areas surrounding Cleveland and managed to engender public support of the project's funding. He inspired local businessmen to make the first donations of land in the Rocky River Valley in 1912.
During the Great Depression, a lack of tax revenue and reduced funding for the project threatened the existence of the parks. However, the parks were considered an essential source of inexpensive community recreation and respite to a public that could use some cheering up. As Stinchcomb stated, “Our parks are one of the best social safety valves we have.” In order to stay on its feet, the Park Board shifted its focus from acquiring land to improving existing parks. By hiring local unemployed men, the Park Board continued to build and maintain the Metroparks so dearly loved and appreciated by Clevelanders while creating much needed employment opportunities.
Innovative federal work projects, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps, swept through the country. Cleveland Metroparks benefited from the hard work of over 5,000 men, some of whom came from across America. The Corps laid trails, planted thousands of trees and shrubs, created lakes and built infrastructure, parking areas and picnic grounds. Their labors created large new parklands for the people to use in a time when they needed these open natural areas most. In 1939 a Cleveland newspaper reporter aptly dubbed the Metroparks the “…country estates of the people.”
Cleveland Metroparks' mission evolved from the initial one of land conservation and recreation to include education about its rich natural environment. In 1931, the Metroparks opened a trailside museum, the first of its kind anywhere, in the North Chagrin Reservation. Featuring displays to teach people about the local wildlife, plants and environment, the museum encouraged people to discover and enjoy the area on their own. The Metroparks also added naturalists to the staff, providing additional opportunities for people to learn about and experience Cleveland's own natural world.
Cleveland Metroparks continue to offer boundless treasures to the public in several distinct types of habitat. Cleveland's geographical placement is a unique crossroads of deciduous forests, old hemlock forests, lakes, rivers and wetlands. Within each habitat lives a particular assemblage of plants and animals, providing a diverse collection of wildlife. According to Jane Christyson, Director of Marketing and Golf Clubhouse Services, future goals for the Cleveland Metroparks include assuring the preservation of these special habitats by connecting them through land acquisition. These habitat connections may come to the park system through donations of property, property easements or purchase.
Cleveland Metroparks is now an eighty-seven-year-old public agency. While the environment around the parks has changed dramatically in those years, the park district strives to allow “nature to be nature,” says Christyson. The Metroparks system also preserves a portion of what Ohio looked like prior to the onset of modern “progress.” Amidst its forest trails can be found the “clearest way into the Universe” of which John Muir spoke.
For more information on the Cleveland Metroparks, call (216) 351-6300 or visit their website at www.clemetparks.com. The website offers free downloadable trail maps, activities and educational information. Contact the Metroparks to receive the monthly newsletter of activities and events called the Emerald Necklace.
Carol J. Spears is a holistic practitioner and wildlife biologist, and has worked for the National Park Service for 24 years. She is a Reiki Master and Teacher, a Certified Music Practitioner of the harp, meditation instructor and birth doula. She does her holistic work out of three offices, including the newly opened Cleveland Clinic Foundation Integrative Medicine facility in Broadview Heights. For more information, visit her website www.heartinhands.com. She can be contacted by calling (440) 639-9958 or e-mailing cjs@heartinhands.com.
Photos courtesy of the Cleveland Metroparks.
