The next step in the development of the Elek Springs property project is expected to take place soon. The City of North Royalton and the Cleveland Metroparks have joined to provide this recreational opportunity for local residents. Elek Springs is located near the area of Royalton and Bennett Roads.
In 2008, the City purchased the 14.8 acre property, called the “Old A. Elek Spring property,” located south of Rt. 82, west of Bennett Road and north of Akins Road. It was purchased for about $225,000. The money came from the City’s recreation capital improvement fund, which was partially funded from a $200,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for recreation. The area has a ravine and streams, as well as a natural spring. Two stone buildings, a small house and garage are also located on the property. There once was a pump house where spring water was sold in the mid-1900s. There are also some very old trees on the property. The City transferred the property to the Metroparks in 2019.
Kelly Coffman, Metroparks Senior Strategic Park Planner, said that the proposed Elek Springs property plan will include a natural foot trail, which would be a couple of feet wide, and would loop within the interior of the property, and also will loop up to Royalton Road. She said that it would be about one-half mile in length. The trail will be run closer to the middle of the property, in an effort to give those on the path the full experience of being in the woods by not seeing the backs of the abutting houses. It also allows for more privacy for those homeowners.
Community Development Director Tom Jordan noted that the Elek Springs property did have an access point on Royalton Road, but it was problematic. In 2019, the Cleveland Metroparks purchased the approximate 3.1-acre property, including a house at 14702 Bennett Road for about $185,000. The house was demolished in 2021. The purchase of the Bennett Road property then gave the park a more natural access point. The property is located next to an all-purpose path that runs along the western side of Bennett Road south to Valley Parkway, which ultimately provides a connection to the Brecksville Reservation and beyond. The Brecksville Reservation is the largest reservation in the Metroparks, with nearly 4,000 acres.
At the time of the Bennett Road property purchase, the path stopped at South Akins. The City then completed the Bennett Road path in 2023, as part of an agreement with the Metroparks. Jordan said that the City has contacted the Metroparks and inquired as to when they would develop the park, given the completion of the path. He said that the Metroparks stated that now that the Bennett Road path is completed, they will begin doing trail development, starting this fall. He said the Metroparks officials stated that the whole project will be designed and constructed with in-house people. The Bennett Road property, which will be the access point to the Elek Springs, was originally proposed as a small parking lot, which will accommodate about six cars.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer