20
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
May/June 2020
Above: The new portion of the Valley View Metro Park, a former golf
course in the process of restoration thanks to DRG Environmental
Consulting. The new park is a proposed future water access point for
paddlers on the Cuyahoga River.
Right: DRG partnered with Marks Construction on the heavy earth
moving work. TGC Engineering assisted with construction staking and
preparing as-built drawings. Both firms have a long history with DRG.
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP PARK REVITALIZATION
WILL BENEFIT CUYAHOGA RIVER WATER QUALITY
In the heart of three Summit County Metro Parks (SMP)
lies 200 acres of the former Valley View Golf Course that
recently underwent a restoration to a more natural state
thanks to Davey Resource Group (DRG) Environmental
Consulting. The Akron, Ohio, property connects three
existing metroparks (Cascade Valley, Gorge and Sand Run),
creating the second-largest contiguous area in the Metro
Parks at just under 1,700 acres.
The team, led by Ana Burns, senior area manager, DRG,
was hired for phase one of the project in 2018, which
included deconstruction of the golf course infrastructure.
Drainage systems, including pipes and ponds, were
removed. The work included planting 3,500 live stakes,
installation of 68 woody habitat structures, and seeding
of 10 acres with native seed mix. DRG also contributed
native tree seeds to the SMP volunteer effort which
included planting roughly 100,000 walnut, oak, sycamore,
and cherry trees.
Davey Golf removed existing, non-native grasses on the
former fairways, tee turf and roughs before new seed could
be planted. Jerry McVety, account manager, Davey Golf,
and David Cunningham, supervisor, CLS Golf and Sports,
conducted the turf and grass work.
With the site situated on the banks of the Cuyahoga River,
DRG also restored about 1,500 feet of stream habitat
and constructed 30 acres of wetland. Fill material placed
along the riverbanks by the former owners was excavated
and removed, and natural habitats for fish and wildlife
were restored.
"Our team was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with
SMP and be a part of transitioning the former golf course
to an ecologically sustainable natural area," Burns said.
"We look forward to watching the site mature in the years
to come as the land develops into one of the metro parks'
core park areas. A bonus is this area is adjacent to the
location of one of my favorite metro parks, the Signal Tree,
which Davey provides care to."
MISSION
