Andrew Gacom
Current Projects
The Conservancy is continually striving to enhance Ohio’s national park. Here’s what we’re working on now.
Photo by Zaina Salem
Boston Mill Visitor Center
As of Oct. 25, 2019, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is able to welcome visitors to a new, state-of-the-art visitor center! This “front door” to the park helps orient new visitors to the Cuyahoga Valley and connects locals to its wide array of landscapes and programs. In close partnership with the National Park Service, the Conservancy managed the fundraising, planning, design, and construction process for the new Boston Mill Visitor Center.
Alex Stewart
East Rim Mountain Bike Trail
The first section of the East Rim trail system officially opened in spring 2016—the first mountain biking trail in our national park. In 2017, seven more miles were completed! Continued trail enhancement and stewardship of the trail system are planned for 2018. See what’s happening now
NPS/Ted Toth
Every Kid in a Park
The National Park Service’s Every Kid in a Park initiative began September 1, 2015, with the vision that “No matter who you are or where you live, every kid should be able to enjoy America’s parks, monuments, lands and waters.” The Conservancy’s Education Center has participated in this program every year, bringing thousands of fourth-graders to Ohio’s national park at no cost to their schools or families.
During the 2017-2018 school year, the Education Center will aim to bring 5,500 fourth graders from throughout northeast Ohio to their national park. There, they’ll explore the history, wildlife, geology, and natural features of the Cuyahoga Valley. Major funding for this initiative comes from the National Park Foundation. Learn more
Photo: Melanie Nesturek
Citizen Science 2.0
Citizen Science 2.0 is a new program from the National Park Foundation that supports collaborations among select national parks, local environmental science education providers, and local middle and high schools to provide hands-on science education at national parks.
Here in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center is creating a sustainable citizen science program that strengthens educators’ ability to teach scientific methods and protocols in conjunction with stewardship of the Cuyahoga River Watershed. The program will provide schools with workshops to develop the skills needed to incorporate citizen science into course curricula.