Cleveland Metroparks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cleveland Metroparks System
The Chagrin River as viewed from The South Chagrin Reservation
Type	Public park district
Location	Greater Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Area	23,000 acres (9,300 ha)
Created	1917
Operated by	Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners
Visitors	18.5 million
Open	All year

The Cleveland Metroparks is a huge system of nature preserves in the Greater Cleveland area of Ohio. It includes eighteen different park areas. These parks mostly surround the city of Cleveland. They stretch along the shore of Lake Erie and follow the rivers and creeks nearby.

People often call this park system the 'Emerald Necklace'. It covers more than 23,000 acres. There are over 300 miles of trails for walking, biking, and horse riding. You can also find many picnic spots and nature centers. There are also golf courses and lots of places to fish. The system also includes the famous zoo in Cleveland. Four of these parks are right next to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Most of the parks are in Cuyahoga County. But Brookside Reservation is actually inside the city of Cleveland. The Lakefront Reservation has several beach parks along the city's waterfront. A few parks are even outside Cuyahoga County. Part of North Chagrin Reservation is in Lake County. A small part of Bradley Woods is in Lorain County. Hinckley Reservation is in Medina County.

How the Metroparks Began

The idea for the Cleveland Metroparks started with William Albert Stinchcomb. He was an engineer who worked for the City of Cleveland in the early 1900s. In 1902, he became the chief engineer for the City Parks Department. He soon began to dream of an "Emerald Necklace" for the city.

Stinchcomb worked hard to change state laws. He wanted to allow counties to protect natural areas. In 1913, the Ohio legislature made a new law. But the Ohio Supreme Court said it was against the state constitution. Stinchcomb did not give up. He went back to Columbus to ask for new laws. This led to the creation of the Metropolitan Park District. It is now the oldest park district like it in Ohio.

In 1915, Stinchcomb got a big chance. He was asked to join the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District board. This was the same board he had worked so hard to create. He said yes and hired the famous Olmsted Brothers. This group helped design many famous parks. They started planning a system of connected parks. They also began buying land and resources. Their plan was the basis for today's Metroparks system.

In 1917, Stinchcomb went back to the Statehouse. He proposed a bill to fund the parks. This bill allowed the park board to collect a small tax. Soon after, another tax was approved to buy more land. By 1921, the park district owned land for Rocky River and Big Creek Reservations. Much of this land was donated. Between 1920 and 1930, the park system grew a lot. They bought land for Hinckley, Brecksville, Bedford, South Chagrin, North Chagrin, and Euclid Creek Reservations. The park system grew from just over 100 acres to more than 9,000 acres in ten years.

Fun Things to Do in the Metroparks

The Metroparks cover over 23,000 acres. You can visit them for free and enjoy them during daylight hours. They are very popular for people who love to run, hike, bike, boat, or fish. Many people also just enjoy nature there. In 2018, over 18.5 million people visited the parks and the zoo. This makes it one of the most visited places in Ohio.

The Metroparks also have golf courses. These do cost money to use. Over 400,000 golfers visit them each year. Each park is special with different features and landscapes. Some parks have unique attractions. For example, Mill Stream Run Reservation has toboggan chutes. These are sledding slides that are found nowhere else in Ohio.

Keeping You Safe in the Parks

The Cleveland Metroparks Police Department keeps the parks safe. Their name was changed in 2019 to help people understand their role. The officers are fully trained police officers. Their main goal is to make sure millions of visitors are safe.

The Police Department works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They enforce traffic and criminal laws. This includes laws about wildlife. The department started in 1917. Today, they have special units. These include a K-9 Unit with police dogs and a Mounted Unit with horses. They also have a Dive Team and a Detective Bureau.

Explore the Metroparks: Reservations

Hit the Links: Metroparks Golf Courses

Gallery

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  Chippewa Creek in the Brecksville Reservation.

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  An African Elephant at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

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  Whipps Ledges at Hinckley Reservation.

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  Squire's Castle at the North Chagrin Reservation.

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  Buttermilk Falls in the North Chagrin Reservation.

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  A bend in the Rocky River in the Rocky River Reservation.

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  Shale cliffs along the Rocky River in the Rocky River Reservation.

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  The Chagrin River as viewed from the South Chagrin Reservation.

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  The Chagrin River as viewed from Cleveland Metroparks (Willoughby Hills, Ohio).

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  Water falling over the shale creek bed in Euclid Creek Reservation.

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  Beyer's Pond, in the Big Creek Reservation, Middleburg Heights.

Images for kids

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  The Great Falls of Tinker's Creek in the Bedford Reservation.