For generations, Geauga County residents have had sleeping giants in their towns.
For generations, Geauga County residents have had sleeping giants in their towns.
These reminders of prehistoric days have withstood floods, fires, development and yes, even those who have dared try to destroy them.
Native to the communities of Chester and Thompson townships and Nelson Ledges, rock formations of Sharon conglomerate (which is sandstone pitted with bits of quartz) have endured for over 320 million years, according to TrekOhio.com.
These formations — respectfully called “Ledges” due to their long hillside slopes of rock, passages and overhangs — have been cherished by naturalists, ecologists and hiking enthusiasts alike, according to Thompson Township and TrekOhio.
The rock formations coupled with the moist air, underground water sources and an abundance of trees create a comfortable home for moss, lichens, ferns and shelter for small creatures and insects. Many of the creatures who call the ledges home are rare and could not survive without the delicate balance created in the unique habitat, said Gavin Svenson, director of research and collections at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, in a Cleveland.com article.
Recently, the museum received a 723-acre parcel of land in Chester Township near the intersection of Fairmount and Sperry roads.
The bequest was given by Lucia Nash, a prominent conservation supporter and owner of Crosscavan Farm, which contains a “most remarkable feature being shelf-like sedimentary outcroppings called ledges,” said Svenson.
The museum plans to incorporate the gift into its current management of over 65 natural areas across northern Ohio, according to Cleveland.com. Cleveland-based Gallagher & Associates, a consulting firm, is currently working to develop a comprehensive plan to study a means of incorporating the massive gift into the museum’s exhibit structure.
“I think we view them as living laboratories or living collections and have to steward them to maintain those living collections,” said Svenson, adding their greatest challenge is the invasion of “human species” that might not be grateful for nor respectful of these natural treasures.
Thompson Ledges Township Park Board has been hard at work meanwhile, developing new ways for the public to enjoy its park. In 2020, a multi-story observation deck was added to visually connect the upper ledge park to the lower. Visitors can enjoy the vistas, looking as far as the Pennsylvania border to the east, and all without being seasoned hikers.
The park will include marked trails to preserve the fragile nature of the flora and fauna. Park board member Mike Kuehn said the board is hard at work to develop a 2022 trail project, which will be accompanied by a central kiosk and key to outline routes.
A park building houses a nature library, something the board would like to expand upon.
Ledges Park has public restrooms inside and outside and the tennis courts have been refurbished. Discussion is underway to also stripe the courts for pickleball, a version of tennis on a smaller court. There is also a lighted pavilion for public use or rental, according to the board.
As previously reported, R.W. Sidley Company donated 26 additional acres at the south end of the park. The board’s wish is to create a separate entrance to the park there and more ample parking. The Sidley Company has been a generations-long neighbor and friend to the park and although their mining operation has long sought minerals from the earth, they vowed not to disrupt the value nor beauty of the park, Kuehn said.
Another portion of Ledges Park exists across Thompson Road to the north, which the township owns. The recent acquisition of the campground at the foot of the north Ledges Park hill has opened up the possibility of adding trails and enhancements there, as well, Kuehn said, adding the new campground owner is cooperating in the discussion.
Another project park board members are mulling over is connecting the Ledges Park area to the recently built Geauga County Public Library branch on state Route 528 (Madison Road).
“I think we have finally turned the corner on management and improvements to the Ledge Park,” said Kuehn. “Visitors are more frequent and vandalism has been cleaned up. We’re just trying to do our best. We are all volunteers.”
