Near the neighboring borders of Geauga and Portage counties sits a quiet and scenic park that is about to get a much-needed restoration.
Near the neighboring borders of Geauga and Portage counties sits a quiet and scenic park that is about to get a much-needed restoration.
Centerville Mills Park — a 130-acre public park in Bainbridge Township near the intersection of Chillicothe and Crackel roads — provides nature trails, disc golf, a dog park and a dining hall facility for rental.
“This park is easily accessible, close, has beautiful scenic aspects to it, it’s open and the people that meet and come here are the best people and dogs you can imagine,” said Lindsey DeBaggis, of Bainbridge Township, who takes her two dogs, Sophie and Ziggy, there regularly.
The adjacent Lake Paternek and Smith Creek, which flows through the park, will soon be restored to healthy stream habitat thanks to a $333,250 grant awarded to Bainbridge Township from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
“The township is fortunate to have received the OEPA 319 grant and looks forward to completing this important project,” said Bainbridge Township Service Director Jim Stanek.
Smith Creek is a tributary to the Aurora branch of the Chagrin River.
An embankment separated the lake from Smith Creek, but the embankment is severely eroding in several locations and at risk of collapse.
Stanek said the presence of the embankment limits Smith Creek’s access to its floodplain and the stream’s ability to spread out and slow down during and after storm events, which causes flood waters to speed up and further contribute to erosion.
In addition to being a threat to downstream infrastructure, the streambank erosion contributes excessive sediment and pollutants to downstream areas and leads to unhealthy habitat conditions for aquatic life, Stanek said.
The lake has been enjoyed by the community for years through additional activities such as catch and release fishing and bird watching, he said, adding Centerville Mills is a former YMCA camp, which was purchased by Bainbridge Township in 2007.
Many years ago, a lake was created at the site of the former mill on the property and named Lake Paterek in honor of an employee of the YMCA camp, Stanek said.
“In the past 14 years, we have been removing some of the older structures while repurposing others which can be rented out for hosting special occasions,” he said.
In 2018, the main dog park was installed and is open to the public from Memorial Day to about Nov. 1. An additional smaller dog park across the parking lot was established and can be enjoyed during the other months and is open now.
“Both the dogs and I love and need to get out,” DeBaggis said during a recent Saturday at the park. “The convenience of it being so close is a perk, but it is also a beautiful walk along with a fun place for them to run around freely after we take a walk. Everyone is kind and friendly that we meet and it has been such a treat to have it so close, especially when we have limited time (due to winter weather conditions) on certain days to come.”
Stanek said the township is in the initial stages of the restoration and dewatering will begin soon, which may occur through the installation of a release valve into the lake’s existing riser outlet structure for a controlled dewatering process.
Water pumps may also be used to help dewater the lake, he said, adding a method will be confirmed after site surveys are complete.
All property east of the lake will remain open, however, the lake and lakeside building and amenities will be closed for the duration of the project.
The township is a member of Chagrin River Watershed Partners, a local nonprofit organization which assisted in submitting the grant application and is helping complete the project.
This project will restore the aquatic habitat and water quality of Smith Creek while addressing severe erosion along the embankment of Lake Paterek,” said Kimberly Brewster Shefelton, CRWP deputy director. “Deepwater fishing habitat will be maintained in Lake Paterek and the embankment will be relocated and stabilized. By reducing soil loss into Smith Creek, this project will improve the health of the Aurora branch of the Chagrin River and the Chagrin River Watershed as a whole.”
Shefelton said after the project is completed, aquatic life in Smith Creek — such as cold water fish like redside dace and macroinvertebrates like caddisfly larvae — will benefit from higher quality stream habitats and improved water quality.
She said bird habitat will also be improved by adding more native vegetation along the Smith Creek corridor, which provides habitat and food for many bird species.
And plant life will be improved by the removal of invasive plant species and the installation of native woody and herbaceous plants along the stream and in wetland areas, such as buttonbush and swamp rose, Shefelton said.
