MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Citing objections from residents who live along and near Gates Mills Boulevard, City Council voted against seeking a federal grant that would have helped the city pay for amenities such as restrooms, pavilions and a playground along a planned walking trail in the the boulevard’s median.
Council voted 5-2 against seeking the grant, which would have required a $621,000 city match, during its meeting Monday (Nov. 9).
In letters to council and speaking in person, several residents spoke against the idea of adding the amenities.
Those amenities included three 10-car parking lots, lighting, benches, a nature playground, restrooms, a pavilion and two shade structures along the 3,900-foot-long grassy and tree-filled strip of Gates Mills Boulevard.
While liking the idea of an all-purpose trail on the median, some residents felt the amenities would lead to increased trash, provide a meeting place for unscrupulous activities and reduce property values.
Council has already approved of the trail and is awaiting word as to whether the city will receive a $491,00 grant for installation. The city would match the grant for the walking trail on the boulevard median by spending about $320,000.
The Gates Mills Boulevard trail is part of a larger plan to connect all parts of the city with biking and walking trails. Council heard of the plans for Gates Mills Boulevard during a committee meeting Oct. 26, while residents were sent a mailing detailing the plans by Recreation Director Sean Ward, dated Oct. 29.
Gates Mills Boulevard resident Patricia Alvarez and her husband, James Kilcoyne, moved to the boulevard 42 years ago. In her letter to council and Ward objecting to the plans, Alvarez wrote that the couple bought the home because of the “beautiful” median strip that provided a nice view from their house.
She then added, “Now, you are proposing to devalue my property, increase traffic to an already high-traffic area, overflow parking spaces onto the streets, entice vandalism, loitering, parties, use of public restrooms for anyone, (and create) safety issues day and night to my property and my person.
"A children’s park in between two high-traffic roads, flashing lights, noise, etc. etc.” She called the plan a “ridiculous and dangerous proposal.”
Sherry and Victor Baskin wrote: “As residents of Gates Mills Boulevard for over 20 years, we are horrified by the proposal of putting parking lots and public restrooms in the middle of our yard. We are here by choice because of the beauty and peace, space and privacy. Are you telling me you’re trying to put Coney Island in our front yard? Are you kidding me?”
City leaders have long spoken about the lack of recreational space in Mayfield Heights.
Speaking at the meeting, Ward said: “Mayfield Heights does not have nature. This is our one grasp at nature. We can cut down some of those trees (on the median) that are falling apart and put up a lot of new trees and put a place for people to come and just get out of the car and go for a walk and see some nature in Mayfield Heights.
"We’re looking at a blank canvas that we can make beautiful. That’s all we’re saying.”
Ward said that in last summer’s city recreation survey, adding trails was the second-most requested item among residents, behind adding a new pool.
Christian Lynn, associate principal for city engineering firm AECOM, told those at the meeting that, because Gates Mills Boulevard is well traveled, the tendency is less for those who may do bad things to loiter. He said that restrooms are needed if families with children will be using the trail.
Only council members Michael Ballistrea and Donna Finney voted for the city to seek the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Program Grant for $1.3 million to complete what would have been a $1.9 million amenity project.
Finney said many young people beginning their adult lives are moving from Mayfield Heights and are starting out in communities to the east. She said adding things like the trail, with amenities, would help keep young families in the city.
Ballistrea questioned Lynn as to whether the city could seek the grant while modifying its plans to meet with with residents' wishes. The grant application deadline is Nov. 16.
Lynn said it would be possible to modify the plan and to receive a proportionate amount of grant money to go with those modified plans, but added that making such changes and requests might decrease the city’s chances for receiving future grant money.
Before voting against the resolution to seek the grant, Councilman Robert DeJohn said: "The question is, do we want a park on Gates Mills Boulevard or do we listen to the residents? I’m not voting in favor of it because residents don’t want a park there, and if I lived there, I wouldn’t want a park there.”
Councilwoman Gayle Teresi said she heard from several residents along Gates Mills Boulevard and nearby streets, such as Kingswood Drive and Longridge and Marshfield roads, who were against adding the amenities.
Teresi said the city should have presented plans to residents as part of a meeting before the matter came up for a council vote.
“We should have done it earlier, put if before (residents)," she said. "I feel very comfortable with my vote.”
Teresi further questioned, if Mayfield Heights went ahead with its plans for the boulevard, whether Gates Mills and Pepper Pike leaders would desire to extend the trail into their communities.
Mayor Anthony DiCicco said the city’s plan was, after applying for the grant, to get public input before moving ahead with any plans for amenities.
"I think we could have come to some kind of compromise that (residents) would have really liked the beautification we would have done there -- leaving out the restrooms and pavilions.
“It was a lot more than a trail,” he said. “It was an opportunity to add the park space which we don’t have. But I understand where (residents) are coming from.”
DiCicco said there is a possibility that the city could again try to get a grant for amenities.
“Once the trail is there, I think that’s where the opportunity really comes up to say, ‘OK, you’re using the trail now, what would you like to see that’s not there?'”
To get a look at what had been proposed, visit the Mayfield Heights city website.
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