For nearly 30 years, adults and children alike have been dragging themselves — and their sleds, tubes and toboggans — up the hill at Punderson State Park.
But no more, thanks to nearly $5 million in planned improvements the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is making to Punderson, including a new mechanized tow rope unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 23.
“This has been a long time coming for Geauga County,” said Gary Obermiller, deputy director of ODNR and chief of Ohio State Parks. “We have not run this sledding hill in 30 years. This building (chalet) has not really been utilized as it should for a long time.”
The park, located at 11755 Kinsman Road in Newbury Township, has been without a functioning tow rope since the last one was removed in 1987.
“On behalf of Gov. Kasich, I want to welcome all you to Ohio’s winter playground. That’s what Punderson State Park is,” said ODNR Director Jim Zehringer, who is $88.5 million in capital improvements to upgrade and modernize trails, campgrounds and recreational facilities in 74 state parks over the next several years.
“I don’t know of another place that you can go dog sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling … all for nothing,” he added. “Go down this great sledding hill, get towed back up, get a free tube here to use, I mean, there are just so many things that the state of Ohio and Punderson State Park have to offer. I can’t picture a better place in the state to spend some capital dollars enhancing that winter activity.”
Zehringer pointed out Ohio is one of seven states in the country that allows free admission to its parks.
“Now almost every time I come here, someone says, ‘When are you going to fix the tow rope,’” he said, explaining one of the reasons it took so long was because the replacement parts had to come from Germany.
About 50 kids got to hitch a ride on the new tow rope Jan. 19, when county schools had a snow day and park staff wanted to test out the equipment.
The tow rope has plastic hooks that attach onto sleds and inner tubes to pull sledders up the hill. Sledders also can grab onto the rope for added safety.
Hunting Valley resident Kim Monaghan came out Saturday to sled with her son, as part of an organized event for Cub Scout Troop 309. It was her first visit to Punderson and the sledding hill, having moved to the Cleveland area in August.
“It’s awesome. It’s really fast, it’s kind of scary fast,” she said. “I love it for the kids; they’re having a ball.”
Sledding at Punderson Saturday also was a first for Joe Gucanac, of Moreland Hills, and his son.
“This is my first time, it’s fantastic,” Gucanac said. “I tell you, it’s unbelievable. We just moved up here a year and a half ago from Virginia and there’s nothing like this down there. It’s an absolute treasure. We just love it; it’s very wholesome.”
Ben Matthews, of Newbury Township, was out sledding with his 4-year-old son, Augie. He welcomed the new tow rope.
“My wife grew up in Newbury, so she’s been coming out for years. This is my second year, I’m a transplant from Cleveland,” he said. “We were here last year and trudging up the hill is no fun, so having a little help getting up the hill is great, especially for the parents.”
Added Matthews, “This is great to have something like this so nearby. He (Augie) likes to ski over at Alpine, but he likes to come sledding, too.”
On weekends, weather permitting, the tow rope will be operated by park staff from 10 a.m. until dark. On Fridays, it will be in use from 4 p.m. until dark.
The tow rope also may be open during the week when there is a snow day. Families are urged to call ahead to see if the sledding hill is open.
The tow rope was not the only thing Zehringer wanted to talk about Saturday.
“We have a lot to do,” he said, explaining more than 7,000 users responded to a statewide survey asking what they wanted to see to enhance their state parks.
Other capital projects completed or planned at Punderson include better trail signage and upgraded electrical service, a four-mile trail system for snowmobiles, building a flush restroom near the disc golf course, renovating cabins and updating playground equipment, renovating the indoor and outdoor pools, renovating the locker rooms and extending a floating boardwalk from the lodge to the cabins.
Next winter, the tennis courts will be flooded and transformed into an ice skating rink, Zehringer said.
“You add that to the hot chocolate, to the tow rope, to the sledding and you’ll be able to ice skate out there during the winter,” he said.