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What's Happening in 2020
OCTOBER 2020
VOLUNTEERS CLEAR OVER TEN TREES AFTER STORM
Thank you to our Richfield Heritage Preserve volunteers who cut and cleared trees after a large storm. In addition to the trees in the photos, volunteers also tackled several trees on the bridle trail and some large branches along Crescent Trail.
OCTOBER 2020
THANK YOU TO TOM ROCKWOOD
For the past few months you may have seen the friendly face of Richfield resident Tom Rockwood as you drove into the park. Tom spent approximately 120 hours clearing vegetation from the drainage ditches along both sides of the road. We are very grateful to Tom for his hard work and dedication in completing this much needed project. Tom's efforts saved the Richfield taxpayers approximately $3,264!
SEPTEMBER 2020
CHECK OUT OUR NEW ORIENTEERING COURSE DESIGNED BY ALEX KLABEN
Thanks to Troop 701 Eagle Scout Candidate Alex Klaben, there is now an official Orienteering Course at Richfield Heritage Preserve. The junior from Strongsville High School designed and installed two courses. One is a short orienteering course (one mile) and the second is a longer orienteering course (2.75 miles) at various locations throughout the park. Visit our Scout Projects Page for a more in depth look at Alex's work.
AUGUST 2020
SEVENTH GRADE CADET TROOP EARNS THEIR SILVER AWARD WITH PARK BENCH DONATION
Seventh grade Girl Scout Cadette Troop 71176 from Independence recently earned their Silver Award by building and installing five benches at Richfield Heritage Preserve. Thanks to the scouts, five sunny yellow benches now surround the fire circle at the Waterfront. Visit our here for more information describing the generous efforts of this troop.
Joanna, Molly, Sarah, Alyssa & Mary each built and painted a bench of their own with the help of their leaders, Irene Christian & Sally Dubitsky, & their families.
JULY 2020
FIVE SCOUTS VOLUNTEER TIME AND WOOD WORKING SKILLS TO IMPROVE OUR PARK
Samuel Gill, Revere Senior
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John DiFilippo, St. Ignatius Senior
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Serena Naizer, Highland High Class of 2020
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Lance Neffenger, Wadsworth High Senior
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Josh Ackerman, Brecksville-Broadview Heights Sophomore
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Visit our Scout Projects Page for more information describing the generous efforts of these five teens.
APRIL 2020
DISCOVER YOUR OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE 2020 PHOTO CONTEST
Current public health concerns have led us to stay socially distant, but thankfully we can connect in other ways. Since we are all staying home as much as possible this month, we encourage you to set aside time to get out and take a walk or a hike at our park, and April 1st - 30th we are promoting a PHOTO CONTEST!
Choose ONE photo of your excursion to Richfield Heritage Preserve taken between October 2015 through the end of April 2020.
Entries can be sent to volunteer-info@rjrd.org. For full contest rules, see here: Photo Contest Rules
Choose ONE photo of your excursion to Richfield Heritage Preserve taken between October 2015 through the end of April 2020.
Entries can be sent to volunteer-info@rjrd.org. For full contest rules, see here: Photo Contest Rules
OOE ADDS GRAVEL TO LARGE LOT
On April 20, 2020 Ohio Operating Engineers donated their time, equipment, and expertise to make much needed improvements to The Large Lot parking lot. RJRD Park Operations Chair, Jeff Deluca, coordinated the project with Ohio Operating Engineers staff. Ohio Operating Engineers re-graded, rolled, and spread 60 tons of gravel on the large parking lot. Richfield Joint Recreation District purchased the gravel. This much needed improvement will help enhance the park guest’s experience.
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MARCH 2020
PACK OUT BUILDING PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS
On March 18, 2020 Ohio Operating Engineers donated their time and expertise to improve the Pack Out Building parking lot. RJRD Park Operations Chair, Jeff Deluca, coordinated the project with Ohio Operating Engineers staff member, Jeff Riggi. Ohio Operating Engineers regraded portions of the parking lot, then spread 200 tons of gravel two inches thick over the entire parking lot. Richfield Joint Recreation District purchased the gravel. This much needed improvement will help enhance park guest’s experience.
Parking lot before project.
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RJRD purchased the gravel.
Ohio Operating Engineers donated their time and equipment.
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Parking lot after project.
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GUND HALL RESTROOM DEMO
Richfield Heritage Preserve volunteers began the Gund Hall restroom demo! Gund Hall was built in the 1960's and originally did not include indoor restrooms, though men's and women's restrooms, plus a utility room, were added to Gund Hall in the late 1990's. Unfortunately they are no longer functional and need to be renovated. Our ultimate goal is to have restrooms with running water and flush toilets in Gund Hall.
Volunteers labeled and removed the partitions in both restrooms. They also removed the toilets, sinks, hardware, restroom doors, and wall tile. As they removed the flooring in the men's restroom, it became apparent that the subfloor and floor joists were rotten, so both were removed. Volunteers also removed the walls in the utility room.
Volunteers will do all the demo work plus install new floor joists and subfloor. FMD Architects will get three bids from contractors for the tile work and re-installation of the toilets and partitions.
Volunteers labeled and removed the partitions in both restrooms. They also removed the toilets, sinks, hardware, restroom doors, and wall tile. As they removed the flooring in the men's restroom, it became apparent that the subfloor and floor joists were rotten, so both were removed. Volunteers also removed the walls in the utility room.
Volunteers will do all the demo work plus install new floor joists and subfloor. FMD Architects will get three bids from contractors for the tile work and re-installation of the toilets and partitions.
In addition to the Gund Hall restroom demo, Richfield Heritage Preserve volunteers have been busy accomplishing additional projects at the park:
Cut up and moved a dead pine tree that fell across the main road near the Upper Lake
Cut up and moved an ash tree that fell near Spif's Garden
Raised a second manhole near the Lower Lake
Moved a grill off the road near Robinson's Shelter
Remade and installed way finding signs that were destroyed by a fallen tree
Maureen McGinty provided delicious goodies for the volunteers! Thank you to everyone who made a difference!
Cut up and moved a dead pine tree that fell across the main road near the Upper Lake
Cut up and moved an ash tree that fell near Spif's Garden
Raised a second manhole near the Lower Lake
Moved a grill off the road near Robinson's Shelter
Remade and installed way finding signs that were destroyed by a fallen tree
Maureen McGinty provided delicious goodies for the volunteers! Thank you to everyone who made a difference!
FIRST OF NEARLY A DOZEN MANHOLES RAISED NEAR KIRBY MILL
The first weekend in March, volunteers raised the first of many manholes near Kirby Mill. The cover will be replaced and the soil will be backfilled after the concrete sets. Eleven manholes need to be raised to prevent groundwater from entering into the Waste Water Treatment Plant. For now and until the work is completed, please use caution when hiking near Kirby Mill.
POWER RESTORED TO GUND HALL AND PACK OUT BUILDING
On Friday, March 6, a tree branch fell near Waterfront. Park Operations Chair, Jeff Deluca, promptly contacted the electric company regarding power lines on the ground. The issue was quickly resolved and power was restored to Gund and the Pack Out Building.Thank you Jeff for keeping the park safe for all!
ALMOST FULL SUPERMOON HIKE
On March 6, naturalist Maureen McGinty led an informative Almost Full Supermoon Hike to kick off the 'Discover your outdoor experience at Richfield Heritage Preserve' series. Park guests learned how the star-nosed mole plays an important role in the food chain for RHP's animals and enjoyed s'mores after the hike!
JANUARY 2020
RICHFIELD HERITAGE PRESERVE ADDED TO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Kirby's Mill
On January 24, 2020, it was announced that Richfield Heritage Preserve was added to the National Register of Historic Places listed under Camp Crowell-Hilaka Historic District. There are 176 properties and districts listed on the National Register in Summit County.
Friends of Crowell Hilaka (FoCH), a 501c3 nonprofit advocacy group partnering with the Richfield Joint Recreation District (RJRD), worked for more than three years to accomplish this task, which included receiving a grant to hire professionals to guide them through this process and then working closely together to bring the task to completion.
The lessons of science and engineering are exemplified in this natural setting as the park provides the opportunity to teach STEM principles. Examples of these principles can be found at the southern portion of the property which belonged to inventor James Kirby of Kirby Vacuum Cleaner fame. On his original estate and still standing on the property today are Kirby’s patented lake, his workshop and mill wheel used to generate electricity to power his inventions, his house which was air-conditioned with spring water, and his dance hall built on industrial springs.
In 2019, FoCH began its fundraising campaign to raise $500,000 to restore Kirby’s Mill. Once restored, the mill wheel could turn again to showcase this technology in motion.
Friends of Crowell Hilaka (FoCH), a 501c3 nonprofit advocacy group partnering with the Richfield Joint Recreation District (RJRD), worked for more than three years to accomplish this task, which included receiving a grant to hire professionals to guide them through this process and then working closely together to bring the task to completion.
The lessons of science and engineering are exemplified in this natural setting as the park provides the opportunity to teach STEM principles. Examples of these principles can be found at the southern portion of the property which belonged to inventor James Kirby of Kirby Vacuum Cleaner fame. On his original estate and still standing on the property today are Kirby’s patented lake, his workshop and mill wheel used to generate electricity to power his inventions, his house which was air-conditioned with spring water, and his dance hall built on industrial springs.
In 2019, FoCH began its fundraising campaign to raise $500,000 to restore Kirby’s Mill. Once restored, the mill wheel could turn again to showcase this technology in motion.
Oviatt House (photo courtesy of Richfield Historical Society)
Additionally, pioneer history and human rights issues are important concepts that can be studied at this property through the Oviatt family connection. The original Oviatt House still sits at the south west corner of the park. Their place in local pioneer history, their connection with abolitionist John Brown and their participation in transporting run-away slaves along the underground railway to Oberlin make the family and original house a logical focal point. To support the effort to save the Oviatt House through pledges of time and/or money, email saveoviatthouse@aol.com.
A great deal of history can be found at Richfield Heritage Preserve. Placement on the National Register of Historic Places is bringing us one step closer to helping visitors to the park appreciate the past, enjoy the present and explore the future.
A great deal of history can be found at Richfield Heritage Preserve. Placement on the National Register of Historic Places is bringing us one step closer to helping visitors to the park appreciate the past, enjoy the present and explore the future.
WOODY SPECIES CONTROL AT RICHFIELD HERITAGE PRESERVE
On January 16, Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association (ONAPA) along with Friends of Crowell-Hilaka worked together to control woody invasive plant growth in the park. Volunteers, some coming as far away as Columbus, helped to cut and treat woody species such as glossy buckthorn, Japanese barberry, privet, autumn-olive and bush honeysuckle.
ONAPA has been mapping invasive plants in the park for the past two seasons.
Invasive species consists of growth that is not native to a specific location and have a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health.
Thank you to our amazing volunteers who braved the cold to help get this growth under control.
ONAPA has been mapping invasive plants in the park for the past two seasons.
Invasive species consists of growth that is not native to a specific location and have a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health.
Thank you to our amazing volunteers who braved the cold to help get this growth under control.
Volunteers removing invasive plant growth
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A well deserved break
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Back to work . . .
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