Cuyahoga Valley: Community and Land
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Since seeing a Frontline film titled, For the Good of All, in 1983 I had wanted to visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. I had continued to use the film for more than a decade in my environmental studies courses because it illustrated so clearly the philosophical worldview of particular strands of the American environmental movement that were influential in the establishment of the U.S. National Park system. To put it simply—we need to set aside natural areas for people to come visit in order to be spiritually refreshed. Thus, humans are not part of nature. So, when Yellowstone National Park was established in 1864, the Native Americans of the area were removed. Robert Gottlieb, in his book, Forcing the Spring, plays out the an alternative route that American environmentalism could have taken which was to focus on community wholeness and health—creating environments where humans and nature are healthy and whole. To be fair, I love our National Park system. However, I remain highly disturbed by the racial and social inequities that the philosophy underneath this system entails. Only those with resources can travel to U.S. National Parks to experience the “healing” power of nature. Doesn’t this make nature into yet one more commodity? And aren’t humans a part of the Shalom that we seek? Shouldn’t we be building health and wholeness where we live?
The story of the Cuyahoga National Recreation Area is one that started with the work of a conservation-minded community of varied socio-economic backgrounds with deep roots along the Cuyahoga River. The valley stretches from Cleveland to Akron and the community along the valley had fought many battles to protect the valley from urban development—power lines, freeways, and growth—while providing opportunities for urban residence to come enjoy the experience of everything from buying Christmas trees off the farms to local produce.
In 1974, the community welcomed the creation of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. The congressional act established the federal park “For the purpose of preserving and protecting for public use and enjoyment, the historic, scenic, natural, and recreational values of the Cuyahoga River and the adjacent lands of the Cuyahoga Valley…” The goal of the act was to set a boundary around an area of 20,000 acres within which the State of Ohio could accept land donations or transfers. With respect to improved properties, the Secretary of the Interior could acquire “scenic easements or such other interests as, in his judgment, are necessary for the purposes of the recreation area. Fee title to such improved properties shall not be acquired unless the Secretary finds that such lands are being used, or are threatened with uses, which are detrimental to the purposes of the recreational area” (U.S. Congress 1974).
Congress authorized $34.5 million for land acquisition over a 5-year period, and the National Park Service and the Army Corps of Engineers embarked on a land-buying spree that by1980 resulted in 60% of the land being acquired, at a cost of more than $42 million, including 306 of the 750 homes in the park area. Farms, small business, churches, and homes disappeared and were replaced by “nature.” https://case.edu/ech/articles/c/cuyahoga-valley-national-park
The process of acquisition continued. In October 2000, the park was renamed the Cuyahoga Valley National Park by an act of Congress. Cuyahoga Valley National Park protects nearly 33,000 acres. Approximately 2400 acres of land remain in private ownership, representing roughly 5% of total park acreage—Everett, one of the poorer communities within the park has largely disappeared while a wealthier community—more expensive to buy out--has become an artsy town. Jaite and Boston Mills have become “historic” in terms of architecture being maintained for use of the Park but not in terms of people with ties to the community.
The park is beautiful. Snow boarding and skiing areas. Birding and biking on trails along the river. Picnic areas.
To appreciate the historic, scenic, natural, and recreational values of the landscape, people, like me, must visit. But where are the local people? I want to hear about their love for the Cuyahoga Valley and their efforts to conserve it.
