00:00:05:15 - 00:00:19:17
Unknown
One resource I'd love to hear you speak specifically about is the Cuyahoga River. As you know, there's growing interest in using the river. At the same time, I think a lot of people are fearful about development along the river.

00:00:19:17 - 00:00:39:02
Unknown
They're fearful about the river kind of becoming a big party river, which sometimes happens when rivers become really popular. How do you see the role of the park in protecting the river in terms of wildlife and water quality and the quality of the experience—

00:00:39:10 - 00:01:07:21
Unknown
kayaking through a national park? That is one of the biggest opportunities in front of us is and one of also the most energizing efforts that this park has undertaken in the time I've been here has been over the past five to six years, as the staff galvanized around a vision for improving the condition of the Cuyahoga River

00:01:07:21 - 00:01:34:08
Unknown
and bringing that as the stellar asset that is the environmental comeback story of the Cuyahoga River, is the comeback story of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as well as of Northeast Ohio. Really, it is at the center of so much of the good things that have happened over the last 50 years to

00:01:34:10 - 00:01:50:17
Unknown
to enrich the lives of Northeast Ohioans. So with regard to that, we're very excited that the people are finding this river because of paddling. That was what we wanted to do. We wanted to get it on the map.

00:01:51:03 - 00:02:08:11
Unknown
The segment that goes through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We want to develop it, I hate to use that word, create that experience that is unique to this park, but also allows people to get a very different view of this national park.

00:02:09:00 - 00:02:36:04
Unknown
Very much more quiet, natural, sounds oriented, scenery oriented. And you know where they can see wildlife up close and, you know, with pretty good frequency and they can feel that they're away from the development. It's not pristine. It's not wild, but it is very scenic, very tranquil and very much a national park experience.

00:02:36:04 - 00:02:55:15
Unknown
So we have to do some development for that. But we're going to do it in a smart way, in a sensitive way so that people really can get the most out of that. Yeah, that's great. You know, that's part of why our board was so insistent and I think brave about stepping up and protecting Brandywine Golf Course

00:02:55:15 - 00:03:09:17
Unknown
, knowing that some of that acreage is beautiful river access and wanting to make sure that that remained public access and park land. So they were courageous in making that decision, and I really am honored to work with them.