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Comments
True, [CUVA] is a gem for all of us to enjoy. But, just a heads up, I wouldn't venture into the Cuyahoga River especially after rain and possible sewer overflows. Enjoy the trails on foot, rent a bike at Century Cycles Peninsula for the towpath, ride the rails (check schedule), kayak the waters, picnic in the meadow, and don't feed the animals :)
JP, back in the olden days the Cuyahoga ran with pure sludge almost its entire length. When some high school friends and I finished canoeing the entire 101 miles from above Burton to Cleveland's harbor, we had to scrape crud off the canoes. Took a lot of hours and effort. And of course, there are the legendary times when the river caught fire.
But that was all before the Clean Water Act.
And if the Tea Party Republicans have their way, we'll need to scrape crud again.
The Tea Party isn't against clean water, grow up!
My favorite aspect of the park are those areas where you can see the process of nature reclaiming an earlier industrial era. Can't remember if this is one of the missions of the park, but it was pretty charming--like coming across an old cemetery in the woods of Shenandoah or Great Smoky Mountains.
Sorry, but no.
Cuyahoga's resource base would make a nice addition to the existing and very competent MetroPark systems.
But a National Park experience?
It is not and never will be.
Kudos for preserving this land from certain urban sprawl. But, it is not worthy of National Park status, especially when signature parks are scraping with insufficent budgets. The federal government should phase control over the park to the MetroParks and devote the funding to other parks in the system. And CVNP isn't the only park that should be reevaluated. Many were formed for political expediency, and dilute the mission of the NPS in more worthy areas. I live near CVNP, and visit there regularly, but disagree with the NP designation.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is OUTSTANDING. CUVA may not be as big as Yosemite but that's part of its charm - you can be hiking above the ski line at Boston Mills one moment, enjoying lunch at Szaley's and buying apples and corn within the hour, then watching goat herds chew their way through fields or exploring waterfalls or climbing rocks in the afternoon - all within very do-able distances. Or bird-watch at Beaver Marsh, pick up a bottle of cider at Szaleys and then hike past Indigo Lake and go over to Hale Farm and Village to spend an afternoon in the middle of the Civil War. At CVNRA you spend less time GETTING to where u want to be...and more time ENJOYING where u are! And along the way you're likely to see blue herons, green herons, wood ducks, and all kinds of turtles, along with coyote and deer. If u want a challenging hike, you forgot to mention the Buckeye Trail - which will take u thru the Valley and can go on and on and on. And one of the BEST features is the Towpath - it's not only good for walking and biking but it ALSO provides 26 miles of wheelchair-accessible pathway - great for training for races etc. or just getting out and actually seeing great scenery. And the HISTORY involved in the valley is FANTASTIC for any history or ghost or crime buffs! The tales about the stolen safe and Red Lock; the disappearing Moravian settlement and the cemetary at Tinkers Creek; the history of the Ohio-Erie Canal...all makes the area a lot like walking through a story book! And don't forget to bike the towpath then pick up the train to go back...or to ride the train for one of it's special events!
I canNOT believe the people saying Cuyahoga Valley National Park [CUVA] is not worthy of NP status! The whole purpose of the National Parks is to
"conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
CUVA does EXACTLY that! The history it contains is phenomonal - from sites of ancient peoples to the history of the Connecticut Western Reserve to the history of the Ohio Erie Canal (which even had a PRESIDENT working on it, as a teenager), to the geological history frozen in the Ledges. It preserves old old (first growth??) trees, the integrity of the the Cuyahoga River and various river runs, the beauty of Brandywine, Blue Hen and Buttermilk Falls, and natural flora. I know of few other places in the area where I can get hit on the head by an abundance of falling black walnuts.
And it does ALL THIS while being within easy access of three major cities - definitely providing for the "enjoyment of the same" by thousands of people.
The National Parks were not meant to be untouchable, difficult to visit, or accessible to just a few. They were not meant to be stockpile of nature kept aside just for the pure act of keeping them. They were meant to be preserved...and ENJOYED. By all. CUVA nicely accomplishes this.
Cuyahoga Valley ISN'T worthing of being a National Park. In fact, designating it as a National Park denigrates the other parks which are worthy. CV is not a bad place, has some nice places, but overall doesn't meet the grandeur, majestic or uniqueness criteria for being a National Park (think Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier, Arcadia, Crater Lake, Denali, etc). CV should be protected as a park, but only as a Cleveland Metropark. As a federal taxpayer, I'm disgusted that my tax dollars are being wasted here.
We could argue designations, but I believe CUVA is worthy of inclusion in the NP system. As with many other parks, e.g. Blue Ridge, CUVA preserves an important story of this nation's development and facilitates protection of a rural landscape on the edge of encroaching development.
As a lifelong Clevelander and NP traveler, I have to agree CUVA is no where near NP worthy. It was fine as a National Recreation Area. Clinton made it a National Park on his way out the door. The best things mentioned above (last three) are not even part of the NP. There are better, more beautiful state parks in Ohio than CUVA. Sorry, but it doesn't cut it. If it does qualify, it's the worst NP in the country. What is worse, Congaree?
No, Congaree is amzaing.
Actually an Ohio congressman added the designation change to an appropriations bill. But don't let facts get in the way of your seditious partisanship.
Oops, I got so riled up by tea party propoganda I aimed my editorial in the wrong direction. But it is true the name change came from an omnibus Congressional bill.
It's true that the Tea Party doesn't seem to be against clean water; but they sure don't seem to be for protecting it. Easy come easy go I guess. The Tea Party Congressionals have brought up over 90 bills so far in their current term to try to weaken the EPA and/or the Clean Air/Water Act. Say what you want, but actions do speak louder than words.
From what I gather, a National Recreation Area designation is more in line with what the park provides. It probably doesn't need to be taken off the NPS inventory of units, but I look at the National Park status and start scratching my head.
http://www.nps.gov/legacy/nomenclature.html
Some of my local politicians are trying to get National Park status for the current Golden Gate National Recreation Area. I enjoy the area and find it worthy of NPS administration. I don't agree it's National Park worthy. I feel that CUVA is probably less worthy than GGNRA.
To say CVNP is worthy of national park status is nothing short of a joke. We have been to dozens of national parks in our travels, Cuyahoga Valley cannot compete with any. Actually, many state parks we have gone to have more beauty and worth then this does. It's done a good job of preserving a small, non scenic area of land, but to put this in the same league as a Yellowstone, Zion, Arches, etc is comical
I think it could be argued that parts of CV are deserving of national historical park or its previous status as a NRA. However, I dont think the entire area rises to the level of a national park. This, Gateway Arch, and Hot Springs are three NPs that should be redesignated as national historical sites/parks or NRAs.