Photo by Jack McCormick

Property boundaries outlined in black

Former Brandywine Golf Course

The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park purchased the 213-acre property in September 2021 and transferred 198 acres to the National Park Service in 2022, retaining 15 acres for Conservancy programming.

• News release on National Park Service purchase of 198 acres

The property sits on both sides of Akron-Peninsula Road and the Conservancy’s 15 acres are on the west (river) side of the property. We are forever grateful to our individual donors and private foundations for their incredibly generous gifts to secure the property and the five foundations that stepped forward with recoverable grants to help us bridge this purchase.

The property is currently closed to the public for safety and liability reasons. 

For more information about the project, please contact:

• Project Manager: Stacey Rusher, Park Projects Director, at srusher@forcvnp.org
• Donors:  Sheryl Hoffman, Leadership Giving Director, at shoffman@forcvnp.org or 330.657.2909 ext. 143
• Media: Jennifer Bako, Marketing & Communications Director, at jbako@forcvnp.org

Soil Testing 

Remediation work continues on the former Brandywine Golf Course with confirmation sampling underway.  This soil sampling and testing will indicate whether or not all of the contaminated soil has been removed.  In some cases, we may need to go deeper and broader to remove additional soil containing mercury to meet required National Park Service standards. More will be known in the coming months.  

Planning Stages of Concept Work for Masterplan

We have selected Studio Zewde, a landscape architecture, urban design, and public art practice based in New York City. Over the next year, the firm will assist us with community engagement initiatives, site analysis, and a landscape framework development. Studio Zewde will be working with two local firms: Biohabitats of Cleveland, an ecological and environmental consultant, and Chagrin Valley Engineering (with offices in Avon and Cleveland) as the civil engineer.

Throughout the process, there will be a variety of opportunities for community/public input including engagement teams at public events, survey cards in areas within the park, special events and online surveys. The first survey is now closed.  

From the feedback received, RSVP for a meeting scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10, from 4-6:30pm at Happy Days Lodge that will share a proposed framework for the site. Casual dinner of soups and breads will be provided to warm up your Sunday evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does remediation mean?

Remediation, in this case, means the removal of contaminated soil. Sampling on the property identified the presence of mercury in the shallow soil of the tee boxes, putting greens and some fairways. The use of fungicides and herbicides containing mercury dates to the 1950s and continued through the 1990s. These products were routinely applied multiple times per year using industry-standard practices and applicable product label information.

Mercury is a cumulative bioaccumulative toxin in wildlife, meaning that once ingested, mercury is not excreted but accumulates in fatty tissues and organs. Wildlife potentially affected include animals that are consumed by “top of the chain” predators (raptors, for example, that prey on shrews and voles).

What is the process and how much will it cost?

The process is called a dig and haul. A firm with a background in handling toxic waste will dig down and remove the soil. Further sampling and testing will indicate whether we must go a little deeper or broader or tell us that the area is clean enough to meet the required National Park Service standards for becoming a part of the national park. Mercury in this form is relatively immobile and there is no threat to humans on the property. The contaminated soil will be taken to a landfill equipped and approved to accept this kind of soil and it will be managed there in perpetuity.

The Conservancy was awarded a $4.5 million Brownfield Grant from the Ohio Department of Development. This grant will enable the Conservancy to do the work quickly and without donor support.

What happens after remediation is complete?

The property becomes part of the park! Most of it will belong to the National Park Service and a small piece will be owned by the Conservancy. Both agencies are working together to develop plans for the space, and both are very excited to give park visitors more access to the Cuyahoga River and the State of Ohio’s 13th official Water Trail. This designation identifies over 90 miles of the river with 24 current access points (and plans to increase with this property!) that encourage public use of waterways, promote ecotourism, and encourage conservation.

The National Park Service is already beginning to look at the conservation needs on the property. Plans include restoration of two streams that were channeled and buried to assist in creating fertile farmland and later a golf course. The park will monitor the site’s plants and animals, and take steps to protect and improve habitats.

What about plans for visitor amenities?

The Conservancy engaged PROS Consulting from Indianapolis, Indiana the fall of 2021 to complete a market analysis report to help build out the plans for the acreage on the west side of Akron-Peninsula Road. Input from Conservancy board leadership, Conservancy staff, National Park Service staff, community stakeholders, and partners was used to help create a vision for this area. That vision includes: increasing opportunities for river access, supporting creative programming, and welcoming new, diverse audiences to the national park. It suggests possible amenities such as accessible trails, access to the river, beautiful river vistas from pavilions and nature play spaces, space for public programming, and a bridge connecting to the Towpath Trail.

The current layer of planning is to look more closely at the site and establish a site plan in coordination with community/public input to allow us to prioritize projects and raise funds to activate the site. In 2023, we selected Studio Zewde, a landscape architecture, urban design, and public art practice based in New York City. The firm will assist us with community engagement initiatives, site analysis, and a landscape framework development. Studio Zewde will be working with two local firms: Biohabitats of Cleveland, an ecological and environmental consultant, and Chagrin Valley Engineering (with offices in Avon and Cleveland) as the civil engineer.

It is taking forever – how long before I can get out there and explore?

The Conservancy recognizes the excitement surrounding the new property. We know people are eager to explore and enjoy it and we want to share it as soon as we can. We are moving as fast as we can through a thoughtful and manageable approach that will add depth and value to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for generations to come.

We look forward to sharing more with you after we complete the next phase of planning. We are grateful for your patience and support!

Stanford Trailhead Project

The Conservancy is pleased to join Cuyahoga Valley National Park in this exciting project to bring a new hub for hiking, running, biking and horseback riding in the Boston to Station Road area. The funding goal was achieved this year for CVNP’s $500,000 matching grant award from the NPS Centennial Challenge to build a new Stanford Trailhead on Stanford Road, just north of the Stanford House.

For more information, please contact:

• Project Manager: Stacey Rusher, Park Projects Director, at srusher@forcvnp.org
• Donors: Sheryl Hoffman, Leadership Giving Director, 330-657-2909 ext. 143 or shoffman@forcvnp.org