The Emerald Necklace

            In tightly packed cities where spaces is maximized with tall buildings, there is great value placed on outdoor spaces, particularly parks where city dwellers can get their fill of green space. Which is why Clevelanders place great value on the Emerald Necklace, more commonly known as the Cleveland Metroparks.

            The Cleveland Metroparks is a series of parks, golf courses, and the Cleveland Metropark Zoo. In the present day, there are currently eighteen specific Metropark areas with over 300 miles of hiking trails all spread across twenty three thousand acres of forested area. With the exception of the zoo and golf parks, this large area of green space is free to the public.

            The Metroparks first started taking shape in the early 1900s when land was donated with the intention to be designated as green space for the rapidly growing city of Cleveland. The Ohio Senate passed an act that allowed the creation of a park board, but little could be done to develop the idea of the Metroparks into a reality. The park board could receive the land donations, but had no power to raise the funds needed to establish the donations into parks. This changed in 1915 when money was granted to the park board and plans could begin to develop trails and roadways that connected all of the individual parks in a continuous circle. Hence the name Emerald Necklace. In 1917 bills were passed to assist in conservation efforts and improve the Metroparks system.

            Improvements to the Cleveland Metroparks continue into the present day. Edgewater Beach and Euclid Beach Park were formerly run down areas along Lake Erie. They were recently acquired and have been incorporated into the Metroparks, resulting in increasing use and enjoyment by locals. Today, the Metroparks are known for their accessibility. There is no entry fee to access the hiking trails, beaches, and nature centers. The walking trails are varied in their difficulty, and many of the easier ones are paved which gives cyclists a safe bike path and also allows for handicap accessibility.

Sources

“Parks & Rec.” Cleveland Metroparks. Accessed March 15, 2019. https://www.thisiscleveland.com/things-to-do/major-attractions/cleveland-metroparks.

“Cleveland Metroparks Organization History.” Celveland Metroparks. Accessed March 15, 2019. https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/about/cleveland-metroparks-organization/history.