Pedestrian bridge work to start; Friends will continue without an MOU
by Sue Serdinak
Dec. 16 Richfield Joint Recreation District meeting
In the absence of Chairperson Anita Gantner, Vice Chair Mike Selig ran the meeting.
He reported that the Richfield Joint Recreation District is required to complete the projects in 2025 for which the park district was awarded $150,000 from the Ohio Capital Budget. He said the funding would be used to replace the pedestrian bridge over the upper lake spillway and to create ADA accessible trails to the Lodge, Amity House and the boathouse.
Park Director John Piepsny said he is getting quotes from companies to install a pre-fabricated pedestrian bridge over the Lake Linnea spillway. Though there was discussion to match the design of the current bridge, it was built over different periods and could not be easily duplicated.
Piepsny said the Ohio Operating Engineers and Local 17 Ironworkers would assist with dismantling the existing bridge. Gannet Fleming engineers will design the connections to the pillars of the bridge.
“The grant had a maximum amount that we could ask for,’’ Piepsny said. “We didn’t realize all of the pieces that would be needed [to dismantle the old bridge and construct a new one]. This is complex … and we need a project manager.”
He added that dam safety inspectors must approve the weight on the bridge abutments.
Friends MOU
Representing the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve, Lynn Richardson asked the board to extend the 10-year-old memorandum of understanding between the organization and the board. She outlined all the services the Friends have provided to the park under the memorandum and the work they plan to do in the future.
However, after opening the meeting, Selig motioned that the MOU should not be renewed, and the Friends should work on a project-by-project basis under the authority of Piepsny.
Other board members agreed. Mike Lyons said the expiring MOU was “not operational.”
He added that failing to renew the MOU should not change the relationship between the board and the Friends, and eliminating the MOU should not be viewed as a symbol of non-support for the Friends.
“Moving to a project basis gives more concise directions as to what we are looking for,” added board Treasurer Dave Wehner.
After the meeting, Friends President Corey Ringle said it is more difficult to raise money for projects without an overarching MOU. In the past, the group secured funds for projects – including Amity House, Garfield Hall and Kirby Mill – by telling donors they had an MOU. Now they will have to go through the park director then the board for each project.
Ringle and Richardson said the Friends handled the invasive species eradication efficiently for several years, but the authority to manage it was taken away from them. It no longer gets the attention it needs, and invasive plants are returning.
Wastewater treatment
Piepsny reported that the park’s wastewater treatment plant passed inspection, but the EPA said the wrong sand is being using in the filtration system. Piepsny said he would contact the firm that updated the plant a few years ago.
Action taken
The board approved contracting with JG Environmental for water system testing and Rick Herhotz for testing the wastewater treatment plant.
The board also passed a resolution to execute an agreement to use the professional legal services of Roetzel & Andress at a cost of $300 per hour.
Oviatt shed
Bob Hooper, president of Oviatt House Inc., said they want to build an 18-by-20 foot shed behind the Oviatt House to store a 19th-century wagon that will be used by the future Oviatt House museum.
Hooper said the wagon will help tell the story of Mason Oviatt as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
According to Hooper, the money to build the shed would come from the group’s capital funds. A campaign to raise $50,000 will begin soon to match the grant funding and would be used to build a bathroom in the future Oviatt museum.
Lake name
Piepsny reported that 38 people responded to the challenge to rename the two lakes in the park. He said that overwhelmingly the response was to use original names.
Piepsny said old maps of the area referred to upper and lower lakes before James Kirby named them Jinelle and Linnea. He suggested that Upper Lake and Lower Lake be used.
Resident Pat Lovejoy said his family is related to James Kirby and praised what has been done to save and restore the buildings in the park.
Lovejoy said he would like the names Jinelle and Linnea to remain rather than the geographic terms upper and lower.
Garfield HallThe Friends coordinated with Hinckley Roofing to install a new Owens Corning shingle roof on Garfield Hall at no cost to the park. The volunteers stained the exterior and interior of the building and poured a gravel base in the patio area of the building.
photo caption: The Oviatt House group received permission to build a shed south of the Oviatt house where they could store a nineteenth century wagon and other materials. Photo submitted