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	25,000 acres (10,000 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 parks in the Cleveland area of Ohio. These parks, called 'reservations,' mostly surround the city of Cleveland. They stretch along the shore of Lake Erie and follow the rivers and creeks in the region.

People often call them the 'Emerald Necklace' because they form a green ring around the city. The parks cover more than 25,000 acres (about 10,000 hectares). You can find over 300 miles (480 km) of trails for walking, biking, and horseback riding. There are also many picnic spots, nature centers, golf courses, and places to fish. The famous Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is also part of this park system. Four of these park areas are right next to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Most of the parks are in the suburbs around Cleveland. But Brookside Reservation is actually inside the city. The Lakefront Reservation has several beach parks along Cleveland'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 Reservation is in Lorain County. The Hinckley Reservation is in Medina County.

The North Chagrin Reservation is home to one of the only old-growth forests in Northeast Ohio. This special forest is called the A.B. Williams Memorial Woods.

How the Metroparks Started

The idea for the Cleveland Metroparks began with a man named William Albert Stinchcomb. In the early 1900s, he had a vision for a large park system. Stinchcomb was an engineer for the City of Cleveland. In 1902, he became the chief engineer of the City Parks Department. Soon after, he started thinking about an "Emerald Necklace" for the city.

Stinchcomb worked hard to change Ohio's laws. He wanted to allow counties to create park systems. In 1913, he helped pass a law for this, but the Ohio Supreme Court said it was against the state constitution. Stinchcomb didn't give up! He went back to the state government and pushed for new laws. These laws allowed for the creation of the Metropolitan Park District. Today, it is the oldest park district of its kind in Ohio.

In 1915, Stinchcomb got his big chance. He was asked to join the new Cleveland Metropolitan Park District board. This was the same board he had worked so hard to create! Stinchcomb accepted the job. He immediately hired a famous landscape design company, the Olmsted Brothers. They started making plans for connecting parks and buying land. Their plan, called the Cuyahoga County Park and Boulevard System, became the blueprint for today's Metroparks.

In 1917, Stinchcomb helped pass a bill to fund the parks. This bill allowed the park board to collect a small tax. A second tax was later approved to buy more land. By 1921, the park system had grown. It included the Rocky River and Big Creek Reservations. Much of this land was donated. Between 1920 and 1930, the park system grew even more. Land for Hinckley, Brecksville, Bedford, South Chagrin, North Chagrin, and Euclid Creek Reservations was bought. The park's size grew from just over 100 acres to more than 9,000 acres in ten years.

The Metroparks Today

The Metroparks offer free entry and are open almost all day. Their more than 25,000 acres are very popular. Many people come to run, hike, bike, boat, fish, and enjoy nature.

The parks are a major place for outdoor fun in the area. In 2018, over 18.5 million people visited the 18 park areas and the zoo. This makes the Metroparks one of the most visited attractions in Ohio. The Metroparks also have golf courses, which charge a fee. Over 400,000 golfers play there each year.

Each park is special, with different features and landscapes. Some parks have unique attractions. For example, the toboggan chutes at Mill Stream Run Reservation's Chalet are the only ones in Ohio.

Keeping Visitors Safe

The Cleveland Metroparks Police Department keeps the parks safe. It was started in 1917. Their main goal is to make sure millions of visitors have a safe time.

The department's officers were called "Rangers" from 1959 to 2019. In 2019, they went back to their original name, "Police." This helped people understand their role better. These officers have always been fully trained police officers. They patrol the parks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They enforce traffic, criminal, and wildlife laws. They use special units like the Motorcycle Unit, K-9 Unit, and Dive Team.

Park Reservations to Explore

Golf Courses for All Ages

The Cleveland Metroparks has several golf courses. They offer different challenges for golfers of all skill levels.

Images for kids

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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 North Chagrin Reservation

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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

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

See also

• Squire's Castle (North Chagrin Reservation, Willoughby Hills)