Project list is lengthy for RJRD; Oviatt House doomed; Rising Valley Park is available

by Sue Serdinak

Nov. 13 RJRD operations committee meeting

The Richfield Joint Recreation District Operations Committee Chairman Jeff DeLuca presented a lengthy list of projects completed in the Richfield Heritage Preserve in 2019.

With the help of a slew of volunteers, he directed painting, repairing and tuck pointing of buildings, installing and electrifying a gate at Oviatt Road, creating a gravel parking lot at the Summer Barn with the Ohio Operating Engineers, replacing windows, installing furnaces and removing debris from the dam. 

DeLuca read another list of projects that were completed by volunteer groups, which included removing invasive species, repairing roofs, applying slip resistant strips to bridges, restoring boardwalks and bridges and installing grills and bird houses.

He acknowledged the work led by FoCH and Ken Bowman to stabilize buildings that will be mothballed. 

FoCH president Corey Ringle, an architect, coordinates the effort and brings in professionals to provide expertise. FoCH received a substantial donation for the stabilization and has funds to complete the project.

2020 projects

DeLuca compiled a long list of projects to accomplish in 2020. He said that repairing the boathouse is a high priority along with getting the water wells operational and approved by the EPA.

He asked the operations committee advisers, Maureen McGinty, Judy Makowski and Susan Czaplicki, to consider taking on some of the projects while he continues to invest his time with the infrastructure work, including gas lines, water wells and parking at Gund Hall.

McGinty suggested that a comprehensive plan needs to be developed as suggested by ANCA “so that money and time isn’t thrown into a project that may not be used in the future.”

DeLuca agreed but said it will take time to even prepare a list.

Board member Bill Smith said he would make himself available to start a list, and they could prepare a three-year plan to start.

McGinty said it would be only for operations in the beginning but eventually a full business plan for the park.

Park board member Sandy Apidone acknowledged all the time that DeLuca spends working in the park.

Township offers Rising Valley park

Richfield Township has notified the RJRD board that it no longer wants to own and manage the 44-acre Rising Valley Park at the north end of Oviatt. Chris Eastwood has maintained the park for several years and is retiring.

In 1967, the federal government deeded the property and adjacent property to Richfield and Hinckley townships. Several years later, Hinckley Township deeded its section to Cleveland Metroparks.

RJRD board members said that having Rising Valley as an extension of the RHP would make it possible to establish connections between RHP, Richfield Woods Park, Eastwood Preserve and even park property to the north.

Rising Valley has two pavilions and two athletic fields that have been used for youth soccer and baseball. RHP does not have sports facilities, and none would be permitted because of restrictions associated with the Clean Ohio grant that was used to purchase the former Girl Scout camp.

According to records the Richfield Times obtained from Richfield Township, Rising Valley generated about $1,395 in use fees in 2018 and had operating expenses of $22,777. It has a capital fund balance of $23,387.

DeLuca said it appears Richfield Township does not want to be in the park business any longer.

The roadway adjacent to Rising Valley Park, which connects Oviatt and Newton roads, is not a dedicated road and might be closed to vehicular traffic if the township abandons it.

McGinty said she doesn’t think closure of the road should be RJRD’s problem.  She also said that RJRD should get an estimate of what it costs to maintain athletic fields before considering accepting the park.

Smith said he sees value to acquiring the park from the township,  “My concern is that it is a distraction from preserving the park that we have, but it is an opportunity that I would hate to see pass,’’ he said. “I think we owe our constituents that we consider this.”

The operations committee voted to pass this along to the full RJRD board “for exploratory to the next level of consideration.”

Oviatt House likely to be razed

DeLuca said that for a lot of reasons he is proposing that the [Herman] Oviatt House, located at the Route 303 entrance to RHP, be razed.

“For the amount of money that it would take us to salvage that property, I could build five buildings,’’ he said. “The historical factor is huge, so I would suggest that we do something like the Kirby House, with a plaque that tells the [Underground Railroad] history.”

Added Smith, “That house has become a wart. It doesn’t look good. It isn’t safe and I don’t see any purpose for it in the future. We want to make that [Route 303 and Oviatt Road entrance] our front entrance and have something like a visitors center some day.” DeLuca said he has a proposal to have the pre-Civil War house razed for less than $5,000. The board unanimously agreed to propose this to the full RJRD board.

Feature image photo caption: The pre-Civil War Herman Oviatt house, circa 2013. Photo from ScripType archives