[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 124 (Monday, July 24, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CLEVELAND METROPARKS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 24, 2017

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
the oldest park district in Ohio, Cleveland Metroparks, on celebrating 
their 100th Anniversary, marking a century's worth of service to our 
region.
   In 1917, following the Ohio General Assembly's passage of hallmark 
legislation allowing for the creation and development of park 
districts, Cuyahoga County probate judge Alexander Hadden appointed the 
first board of the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District. In an effort 
to support resource conservation and through the vision and leadership 
of their first director, William Stinchcomb--a self-taught engineer who 
first conceptualized the idea of a chain of parks connecting our 
communities--the Emerald Necklace was born.
   From modest beginnings, Cleveland Metroparks held and preserved just 
109 acres of land in Cuyahoga County's western and southernmost 
suburbs. Yet, within their first decade, what started with just one 
hundred acres of donated land would soon grow to encompass 9,000 acres 
throughout more than a dozen communities.
   As a national leader in sustainability, Cleveland Metroparks' 
successes in natural resource conservation, as well as innovation in 
green infrastructure, provide essential environmental, health and 
economic benefits for all people. In fact, last year, Cleveland 
Metroparks won the prestigious American Academy of Park and Recreation 
Administration's National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and 
Recreation Management--an award that Cleveland Metroparks has received 
4 times since 1994.
   Our park systems play a crucial role in environmental stewardship 
and community health, ensuring not only the preservation and prosperity 
of our flora and fauna--but improving public health and wellness by 
preventing health related problems ranging from asthma and obesity to 
diabetes and mental health.
   The Cleveland Metroparks also has a tremendous impact on the 
regional economy. Tourism remains one of Ohio's largest and fastest 
growing industries, producing $43 billion in sales annually. Of that, 
Cuyahoga County contributes nearly 20 percent, generating $8.1 billion 
for the economy in 2015. What's more, a recent study conducted by The 
Trust for Public Land found that Cleveland Metroparks alone generate 
nearly a billion dollars annually for the local economy.
   Cleveland Metroparks has built an admirable legacy, from the Rocky 
River Reservation, the first land purchased by the park district, and 
its many trails weaving through the Valley's forests and wetlands, to 
the Centennial Trail improving access and re-connecting our region with 
Wendy Park, Edgewater Beach and Lake Erie's shore. The Metroparks have 
remained committed to the conservation of natural resources, the 
education of our community and the recreation opportunities for our 
friends and family.
   Today, 100 years later and spanning 47 diverse communities, 
Cleveland Metroparks' more than 23,000 acres of preserved wetlands and 
forests, trails and paths, lakefront beaches, rivers and streams, golf 
courses and a nationally acclaimed zoo, have become a destination and 
gathering place for millions of runners, hikers, cyclists, boaters, 
kayakers, fishermen, birders, nature enthusiasts and families from all 
across the country.
   In recognition of the 100th Anniversary of Cleveland Metroparks, 
please join me in thanking all those whose vision and leadership have 
shaped this vast network and helped create one of the most valuable and 
significant resources in Ohio.

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