Parks, Cleveland

The Metroparks are called the Emerald Necklace of Cleveland. They surround the city in a swath of green.

Bedford Reservation is south in Garfield Heights and Maple Heights, off I-271 and I-480. It includes Tinkers Creek Gorge, the Gorge Parkway and lots of picnic and hiking trails. It is located adjacent to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Bedford/Walton Hills
Viaduct Park - Willis and Taylor St
Shawnee HIlls Golf Course - Egbert Rd- Golf
Little Overlook - Gorge Parkway - Tinkers Creek view
Bridal Veil Falls - Gorge Parkway - waterfalls
Tinkers Creek Gorge Scenice Overlook - Gorge Parkway - Tinkers Creek

Williard Park is a very nice downtown park, in the midst of the Civic/Business district, flanked on the North by the lakefront area. It's next to City Hall on Lakeside, and continues to E 9th St. It's mostly wide open green space, and there's not many quiestionable people there, especially during the week days. It's certainly a nice place to spend some time taking in the city, and observe the civic goings-on. There's also a newly remodeled picnic area next to city hall, and it provides a wide-open view of the lakefront. There aren't many events that take place here, and there isn't much public art, except the Free Stamp and a memorial to fireman that fallen in the line of duty. For a downtown park, it has a wide-open feel to it, with excellent views of the city and lakefront. :)

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Running from the southern boundary of Cleveland, east of I-77 is Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is an Emerald Jewel connecting the 'Emerald Necklace' of the Cleveland Metroparks to the Akron Metroparks. More than just a green space, it is a recreation area (skiing), art center (Blossom Music Center - Summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra & Porthouse Theater), historical mecca (Hale Farm and Village, Everett Village, Ohio and Erie Canal), envrionmental learning center (Oak Hill Environmental Center, Happy Days Visitor Center, Virginia Kendall Park, the ledges), and the green space of rural america (Countryside Initiative).

Cuyahoga Valley
The Valley is the northern portion of the Ohio & Erie Canalway, a scenic byway through eastern Ohio along the Ohio and Erie Canal.

Along MLK just north of University Circle is a string of small gardens that form a larger parkway called the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. There are 36 gardens in all. Each garden is themed toward a nationality, which are representative of Cleveland's immigrant population. Many of them are quite striking and a lot of effort seems to have been put into them.
There is an upper and lower section. The upper is on a quieter street and is easier to access since you cannot park on MLK.
Look for the signs as you cruise south on MLK between I-90 and Superior Ave. The upper is on East Boulevard generally south of St Clair Ave. For those, park on the side streets that branch off East Blvd. No street parking on MLK, but there is a small park with a pond near the southern end that offers a parking lot.

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The Metroparks are called the Emerald Necklace of Cleveland. They surround the city in a swath of green.

Rocky River Reservation continues south of Brookpark Road (Brooklyn Rd Entrance). The river valley encloses the entire westside of Cleveland like a moat. Fewer bridges zoom over head as we move upriver and south.

Start at the Nature Center at Cedar Point. You can learn about how the valley came to be and the people who have been affected by life here. Best of all, you can take a walk up onto the high places and back into the nooks and cranies created by erosion and see the wildlife that abounds here in the metropolitan area. The shale cliffs have been found to contain fossils of some of the rarest prehistoric fishes. An entire shark fossil has been found as well as the armoured fish, bigger than a man. Both may be seen at the nature center.

The bike trail and equestrian trails continue through the Reservation to Barret road making over 30 miles of paved trail. Take a walk or take a ride on a warm summer day through the cool shade of the valley and it's trees.

North Olmsted/Cleveland
Rocky River Nature Center - - Valley Parkway nr Cedar Point Rd entrance - Nature Center & Programs
Lawrence Grist Mil - - Cedar Point Road-east entrance - Historic Bldg
Frostville Museum - - Cedar Point Road-east entrance - Historic Bldg
Olmsted Falls/Berea
Berea Falls Scenic Overlook - - Valley Parkway nr Barrett Rd entrance - Falls overlook

Rocky River Reservation comes to an end at Bagley Road in Berea. Don't be worried, the Emerald Necklace continues as the Mill Stream Run Reservation. (see my next tip)

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The Metroparks are called the Emerald Necklace of Cleveland. They surround the city in a swath of green.

Rocky River Reservation is west of Cleveland along Rocky River. This is the western end of the Emerald Necklace . It is easy to miss this entire area because it's below the communities of the west side. You zip over the valley on I-90 or I-480. on the local roads, you pass over the valley on 'high bridges'.

For a spectacular entry to the Rocky River Valley, take Puritas Road west until it plunges down into the valley.

Rocky River/Lakewood
Emeral Necklace Marina - - Beneath Detroit Road - Access from Valley Parkway
Rockcliff Springs - - Beneath Hillard Road off Rockcliff Lane & Valley Parkway
Memorial Field - - Valley Parkway - Ballfield
Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook - - Valley Parkway C*
Tyler Field - - Valley Parkway - Ballfield
Fairview Park
Little Met Golf Course - - Old Lorain Rd entrance
Ranger/Park Operations - - Valley Parkway nr Wooster entrance
Big Met Golf Course - Valley Parkway - Golf
Mastick Woods Golf Course - - Valley Parkway nr Mastick & Puritas Rds entrances - Golf
Rocky River Stables - - Puritas Road entrance - Horseback Riding

Rocky River Reservation continues southward. See my next tip (Metroparks - Rocky River Reservation (south)

The Metroparks are called the Emerald Necklace of Cleveland. They surround the city in a swath of green.

Mill Stream Run Reservation is south in Berea and Strongville, off I-80 (Ohio Turnpike), OH 82, and US 42. It includes a tobogan run (in season) scenic drive and lots of picnic and hiking trails. The necklace continues eastward along the Valley Parkway until you reach the Brecksville Reservation.

Berea
Music Mound - - N. Quarry Street off S. Rocky River Rd
Baldwin Lake - - Valley Parkway
Wallace Lake - - Valley Parkway - Swimming
Strongsville
Ranger Lake - - Valley Parkway
Archery Range - Albion Road
The Chalet - Albion Road - toboganning
Stongsville Wildlife Area - Valley Parkway - not accessible
Camp Cheerful - Off Royalton Rd (OH 82) - youth camp

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The Metroparks are called the Emerald Necklace of Cleveland. They surround the city in a swath of green.

Brecksville Reservation is south in Breckville, off I-77 and OH 82. It includes 'Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, the Nature Center, the Brecksville Stables and lots of picnic and hiking trails. It is located adjacent to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Brecksville
Chippewa Creek Gorge Scenic Overlook - Chippewa Creek Dr of OH 82 Chippewa Rd - scenic river
Harriet Keeler Memorial Woods - Chippewa Creek Dr - Tallgrass Prairie - Wheelchair accessible
Brecksville Nature Center - Chippewa Creek Dr - Programs
Station Road Bridge - Valley Parkway @ Riverview Rd- historic bridge over Cuyahoga River
Deer Lick Cave - Valley Parkway
Brecksville Stables - s Meadows Dr- Horseback riding
Sleepy Hollow Golf Course - Brecksville Rd OH 21- Golf
Squire Rich Historical Museum - Brecksville Rd OH 21- History

The Metroparks are called the Emerald Necklace of Cleveland. They surround the city in a swath of green.

Big Creek Parkway is southwest of downtown, running between Memphis Road and the Strongsville Reservation. It includes numerous picnic areas, such as Memphis Hills, Fernhill, and Snow Road picnic areas. The winding parkway leads through woods and rivers. Fifteen miles (24km) bike trail winds from Brookpark Road all the way down to Whitney Road, where a half mile of roadway connects to the Mill Stream Run Bike path.

Brooklyn
Memphis Hill Road Park - - Memphis Ave @ Tiedeman Rd
Parma
Fern Hill Park - - Big Creek Parkway @ Brookpark Rd
Snow Road Park - - Big Creek Parkway @ Snow Road
Parma Hts
Middleburg Hts
Lake Abram - - Eastland Rd north of Bagley Road
- Bird Watching
Lake Isaac Waterfowl Sanctuary - - Big Creek Parkway @ Fowles Road
- Bird Watching
Beyers Pond - - Main St, west of Big Creek Parkway
- Bird Watching
Strongsville
Apple Ridge Pond - - Big Creek Parkway
- Bird Watching
Beech Hill Pond - - Big Creek Parkway south of Whitney Rd
- Bird Watching

Although it's usually scarcely populated with visitors, it's indeed worth perusing. This park was dedicated during our bicentennial celebration in 1996.

Here you'll find the location (hence the name of the park) where Moses Cleaveland (spelling is correct there) landed in 1796. There's a fountain there that is surrounded by ugly white tubing that I can only assume is there keep the site protected.

Also, there's a 'garden' of pillars that are tiled with drawings/paintings from area school children in 1997, as a way to celebrate our bicentennial (which was a hell of a party all over downtown). My cousin even has a tile there. :]

You'll find a few more details as you gander, and it's in a great location to have a wide view of the Flats area.

The park is located on the West Bank of the Flats, along Old River Rd. If you are going to be using the RTA Waterfront Line (www.riderta.com), there is a stop directly at the Park; they'll let you out right there. In fact, you can even see some of the station in the background of the photo.