Imagine being suspended in the air, sliding across the natural beauty of Geauga County as others catch and release fish, picnic-goers traverse new woodland trails and young adventure-seekers experience the thrill of reaching for the summit of a rock wall.
With a target date of spring or early summer 2018, Geauga Park District will feature a new park in Claridon Township promising a little something for everyone.
“With the purchase of these properties in the late 1990s, we are excited to begin building a park at this location,” said park district Executive Director John Oros.
Amenities in the planning stages include parking, the largest enclosed park district shelter with indoor plumbing, fishing, hiking trails, a zip-line course, rock wall and BMX trail for pedal bikes.
The park district Board of Commissioners unanimously approved to bid and award the contract Tuesday morning with construction slated to begin this spring.
Claridon Woodlands will be a 130-acre park just east of Chardon and easily accessible from Chardon Windsor Road, Claridon-Troy Road and state Route 608.
People will also have easy access to the Maple Highlands Trail, which dissects the park.
The commissioners approved improvements to Maple Highlands South that include paving about six and a half miles from Headwaters, at the former Grandview Golf Course, to Swine Creek.
“This park (Claridon Woodlands) occupies the upland of Claridon Township, with two man-made lakes, that separates the headwaters of the Upper Cuyahoga River into the East and West Branches, which merge several miles to the south below Burton,” said Dan Best, park district naturalist.
Home of the former Hyde property and one-time Christmas tree farm, towering evergreens still dot the landscape.
A zip-line, an increasingly popular outdoor adventure activity across the country, is planned to be minimally intrusive to trees and natural structures.
Oros highlighted the park’s accessibility to the Maple Highlands Trail and “some new recreational opportunities for our teens, young adults and Geauga County families.”
“I’m really excited about the shelter … a signature shelter. People love our shelters and new woodland trails winding through a beautiful sugar maple beech forest.”
Oros said park shelters have become increasingly popular for family gatherings, such as birthday parties.
Two longtime Claridon Township families, the Hydes and Kaplans, called the park property home for years.
The deed to the western Hyde property, 80 acres, was transferred to the park district for $450,000 on Aug. 19, 1999, by William J. Hyde, the executor for the estate of Virginia B. Hyde.
The deed to the eastern Kaplan property, 47-acres, was transferred to park district for $297,500 on Dec. 15, 1999, by Edna Anne Kaplan and Florence Pauline Kaplan.
“We came to a very nice agreement with the park board because we thought that our parents would be happy with that decision,” said Elizabeth Hyde Siman, daughter of William and Virginia Hyde. “They loved Claridon, and our parents were of the mind set that if we were lucky enough to live where we did, then we should share what we had.”
Elizabeth added, “Consequently, several Boy Scout troops regularly camped there, as well as friends who wanted to vacation close to home. Many people enjoyed the fishing — the largest catch being a six-pound large mouth bass. Our 4-H Club had meetings as well as trail rides. If any of our friends wanted to ride, my sister and I were to saddle up the horses.”
She recalled how her mother would take a walk around the lake almost every day.
“She had a special friend, a great blue heron, that would let her pass within 20 feet or so when he was in his tree,” she said. “I wonder what they said to each other.”
Sometimes, things that are meant to be, fall into place, Elizabeth said.
“Such was the case when the Kaplan sisters called one day and asked for our help in maintaining their farm, which backed up to ours. By that time, our family had decided to sell to the Geauga Park District,” Elizabeth said. “When I began to share this idea with them, they just said, ‘Stop! Then that’s what we’ll do!’ The Geauga Park (District) made arrangements to purchase their acreage, graciously allowing the Kaplans to stay another three years in their beloved farm house before having to move to assisted living arrangements. And thus, the two adjoining parcels of land could be developed for this wonderful new park.”
She added, “I can’t wait for others to be able to explore and find their own magic in this special place.”
As he walked through the park, talking about its plans, Oros couldn’t agree more.
“It’s time now to get it open to the public,” he said. “We are proud of what we do. We have a great staff.”
Best added, “The Hyde-Kaplan property, as a park, will provide a welcome access point to the Maple Highlands Trail approximately halfway between Mountain Run Station on the eastern outskirts of Chardon and Headwaters Park.”
Teeter Grosvenor, 92, a well-regarded longtime Chardon Public Library genealogy volunteer, fondly remembered the Hyde family.
Grosvenor said Eber, a lawyer, and his wife, Virginia’s sprawling land was home to many outdoor activities complete with a small cabin.
Virginia was a member of First Congregational Church of Claridon in Huntsburg, where Grosvenor still belongs.
“I knew Ginny Hyde well,” Grosvenor said. “Her home was full of artifacts and history. The whole area has a lot of history connected to it. Virginia Hyde was very active in the historical society.”
Susanne Kronk has lived in her century home across from the park for 50 years.
Her late husband, Carl, served as a former board member and president of Geauga County Historical Society.
“I used to like to use the parks,” Kronk said, admittedly mildly excited about the new addition after meeting Oros and having her questions and concerns answered in person on Tuesday.
Kronk shared that her own relative, Donald Meyer, served as first the first park district director.
“We have a track record for being good neighbors,” Oros said. “We do want everyone to be happy.”
Huntsburg Township’s Denise Silbaugh, Kronk’s caretaker, smiled and said she was excited about new park plans that include additional fun for a new generation of people.
“My grandchildren will really enjoy this,” Silbaugh said. “I’m excited.”
Best said the park breaks up the eight-plus mile stretch of the highlands trail between Chardon and Headwaters, “thus providing shorter lengths of the trail to better accommodate short distance trips for families with young children on their little bikes as well as walkers, joggers and cross-country skiers to enjoy the trail in smaller sections.”
Oros paused as he shared his joy of having kids.
“Different people enjoy nature in different ways,” Oros said. “With 90,000 people in the county, there’s something for everyone.”