Have you heard the news? Cleveland Metroparks just won the 2016 “Best in Nation” award by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). We’re #1, we’re #1, we’re #1! In celebration, I am posting our February trip to Euclid Creek Reservation, a green space affiliated with the Metropark system.
February?!? Well, yes. Needless to say, it was an unusually warm winter. As soon as the sun came out, everyone ran outside to enjoy the nice weather. To my surprise, a lot of people ran to Euclid Creek Reservation for a weekend walkabout.
Figure 1. Euclid Creek Reservation: a Euclid Creek runs through it.
Euclid Creak Reservation features, as you might imagine, Euclid Creek (Figure 1). There are seemingly endless walking trails that follow the creek. I was shocked how close you could get to the water. In fact, there are many signs throughout the reservation warning parents and guardians to keep a close eye on kids, especially during hot summer days where it might be tempting to jump into the swift, rocky creek.
Besides the creek, there are several other notable elements related to this reservation. Most obvious is the blue-gray siltstone (Figure 2), which made the area a popular quarry in the late nineteen century. Less obvious, a least to me, is that the reservation is filled with chestnut oaks or “rock chestnut oaks.” I really need to learn more about trees and birds if I am going to be here a while. And, if we are here a while, I am sure we’ll be making our way back to Euclid Creek Reservation for another stroll.
Figure 2. The blue-gray siltstone of Euclid Creek Reservation.
