Additional Background Information

Dedication Ceremony: May 16, 2008, 8:30 a.m.

Location/Ward: Plymouth Road and South Hills Boulevard, Ward 15

Acreage: 21.12 acres (including Harmody Park)

Project Description: The Department of Parks restored and preserved 21 acres of prime riparian corridor, wooded ravine and open space through land acquisition and placement of a conservation easement. In addition a 2/3-mile asphalt paved, all-purpose trail linking Harmody Park with the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail was constructed—thereby creating public access from the surrounding neighborhoods into this natural ravine and to the Towpath Trail. The trail included retaining walls of varying heights planted with native plants, interpretive, way finding and educational signage, scenic lookout areas, custom benches, and hand crafted timber railings. Restoration elements included erosion and water quality improvements, native plant installation, invasive plant removal, and a native grass seed mix and native woodland wildflowers.

Prime Consultant:
schmidtcopelandparkerstevens
1220 West Sixth Street Suite 300
Cleveland OH 44113
216-696-6767

Subconsultant:
Floyd Browne Group
450 Grant Street
Akron OH 44311
330-375-1390

Project Manager:
Division of Research, Planning & Development
Mark C. Fallon, Commissioner
Donald A. Kasych, Senior Landscape Architect

Contractor/Address:
F. Buddie Contracting, LTD.
12120 Sobieski Avenue
Cleveland OH 44135
216-671-3770
Cost: $1,342,265 (construction)

Fund Source:
$745,316 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant
$498,000 G.O. Bond Proceeds
$40,000 CMHA land donation value
$10,000 Ohio & Erie Canal Association grant to OBCDC
$273,850 value of in-kind service and property
$285,000 Ward 15 G.O.Allocation ($5k Ward 16)

Additional Facts:

• The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant was awarded in 2003. Old Brooklyn Community Development Corp., Ohio Canal Corridor and Department of Parks and City Planning staff collaborated on the City’s application.
• An invasive species plant removal was conducted in November 2005 by James Ford Rhodes High School biology teachers Kim Swaggard-Svec and Jim Gazda and approximately 25 students. The teachers and students removed over 1,500 invasive plants that were choking out native species. They pulled and bagged Japanese knotweed and other non-native plants. The students learned about invasive plants, public relations (educating people about the project), science data collection and community awareness of the importance of greenspace.
• The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District constructed/rehabilitated the Big Creek Interceptor, part of which is located in the ravine in 2006/07. Rehabilitation of numerous manholes, catch basins, culvert headwalls and other stormwater drainage structures were included. One of five work shafts was constructed in the Treadway Creek ravine and required temporary and permanent easements from the City of Cleveland. Construction began in January 2005—the original completion date was projected as July 2006. Unfortunately, the City of Cleveland was not allowed to start construction of the trail project until the Big Creek Interceptor job was completed, which finally was done in May 2007. Interpretive signage about the sewer work was designed with the assistance of NEORSD staff. The cost of the entire Big Creek Interceptor project most of which cannot be seen was $12,700,000.
• The Cuyahoga County Engineer provided survey services through Ohio Canal Corridor equipment grant funds, which saved more than $20,000 for the project.
• The Clean Ohio Conservation Fund required the City to grant a conservation easement on the greenway. The City is granting the easement to West Creek Preservation Committee at a cost of $20,000. The Greenway will be conserved by West Creek for its scenic, natural, aesthetic, recreational, and education resource in its present state as a natural, scenic, wooded and riparian area, constituting a natural habitat for plants and wildlife. Illegal dumping in the ravine, which has been an ongoing problem, will be eliminated.
• Ohio Canal Corridor a non-profit agency committed to ‘building a different kind of a park’ has conducted RiverSweep, a clean-up program that included the Treadway Creek Greenway for the past few years, including this year’s program on May 10, 2008. Tons of garbage was removed in this 1,200-strong volunteer effort. Thanks to the Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration project this year the garbage was somewhat reduced, however a minority group of ignorant residents continue to mistreat the ravine.
• Natural resource community education program opportunities are to be explored by the local schools and the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corp. In addition, the local councilman proposes a trailblazer program to be the eyes and ears on the trail. Anyone interested in joining should contact the Ward 15 Office.

Prepared by: Division of Research, Planning & Development
April 3, 2008
Factsheet pdf

Additional Background Information