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Projects | Park Improvements | Parking & Entrance Drive Improvements
Lake Metroparks has made a commitment to providing the taxpayers of Lake County with access to the county’s excellent parks and natural areas. The park district is also committed to maintaining safe, clean and well-cared for facilities.
 Streams are complex systems and flood flows can be dramatically different and more damaging than periods of normal flow. Over time, flood flows have eroded away the once gradually sloped banks of Big Creek causing a potential hazard to recreational visitors to the park.
Last year, Lake Metroparks had preventive maintenance done to stabilize the streambank along Big Creek within
Helen Hazen Wyman Park.
 The Big Creek Stream Restoration and Stabilization Project involved the installation of rock vein structures intended to divert stream flow away from the much used west bank. In addition, the project also involved the re-grading of approximately 450 linear feet of stream-bank and re-vegetation of disturbed areas along the stream.
Skok Meadow is part of Girdled Road Reservation and is located off SR 608. Lake Metroparks has installed 1.17 miles
of trails and two (2) observation decks
to offer visitors extended viewing opportunities. One deck overlooks Big Creek, and the other overlooks the reclaimed wildflower meadow.
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Updated April 25, 2012
Purpose and Need
The purpose of the Lake Metroparks Greenway Corridor Southern Connector Bikeway Project is to provide a safe connection to link the existing southern section of the bikeway corridor with the existing northern section of the bikeway corridor that was completed in 1993 and 2001.
The southern section of the asphalt path extends from Girdled Road in Concord Township to Colburn Road (at the Geauga County line). The northern section of the asphalt path extends from Ravenna Road in Concord Township to Jackson Street in the City of Painesville. There is a gap of several miles where these two sections do not connect. There currently is not a safe way for bicyclists to travel from one section to the other. The proposed connection between the two sections will provide a safe link while increasing bicycle and pedestrian access to the Greenway Corridor as well as providing a non-vehicular link to local commercial establishments nearby.
The new connection will establish a multi-use path extending from the northern end of Lake County in Painesville City to the Geauga County line. At the Lake/Geauga County line, the Greenway Corridor meets Geauga County Park District’s Maple Highlands Trail. The Maple Highlands Trail currently extends from the northern Geauga County line to the north end of the City of Chardon, and then from the south end of the City of Chardon to Headwaters Park, southeast of Chardon. It will eventually be extended through the City of Chardon and then from Headwaters Park southeast to Parkman Township for a total of 20 miles.
Five alternate bike path routes were reviewed to make the connection between the two existing bike paths. The recommended preferred bike path route is the Concord-Hambden route that follows Crile Road, Auburn Road and Concord-Hambden Road. This route provides the benefits of access to the Quail Hollow resort, access to the restaurants and shops located in the Gristmill shopping center and the Quail Hollow subdivision while achieving the overall objective of a connection between the northern and southern portions of the Greenway Corridor Trail. (Click here for map)
Schedule Update
Detailed design and engineering will be completed in FY2012 and submitted for construction in FY2013 with approval of plans by ODOT. Subject to available funding, Lake Metroparks’ goal is to complete this project in FY 2013 and open this connector in FY 2014.
 The Eber Howe House is one of Lake County’s only remaining structures from the 1800s that is directly tied to the industrial history of the Big Creek Valley.
It also has an important social history as
a stop on the Underground Railroad and residence of several prominent figures in Lake County history.
Lake Metroparks is performing limited restoration to stabilize and preserve this historic building.
The beautiful waterfall locally known as “Chair Factory Falls” is the natural feature now accessible by a recently installed pedestrian trail off of Lake Metroparks Greenway Corridor in Concord Township.
Lake Metroparks installed a 0.3-mile trail to provide safe public access to view the falls, which were previously privately owned. The project was made possible by the donation of 4.5 acres of land by Laura MacMillan Crago, Johanna Bates, and Julia MacMillan in loving memory of George V. Bates, III and Susan Bates MacMillan.
Lake Metroparks, in an ongoing effort to provide quality services to our visitors, installed new concrete vault restrooms replacing old restrooms/port-o-potties or providing new facilities in the following parks:
 Grand River Landing- Greenway Corridor
(south of I-90 overpass)
- Hell Hollow Wilderness Area
- Hidden Lake (new)
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