Upcoming

"A Look at Big Creek and its Past and Future Forest Ecology"
with Dr. Roy Larick.
Monday, Oct 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Windows on the World, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Details & Registration (Don't let the registration form scare you! It's really just an event registration.)


News & Events . . . . . . . . . . . . Recently:

Annual Big Creek Watershed Clean Up. Sat.,
June 1, 2024
3 locations: Snow Road Picnic Area, Brooklyn Fire Station, Cleveland Brookfield Park. Flyer

RiverSweep Clean-up – Canalway Partners
Lower Big Creek/Jennings site.
May 4, 2024

Parma Heights Earth Day event
April 27, 2024

Fall Hike: Brookside Yesterday & Today
October 21, 2023
Details

Cleveland Metroparks Monday Meet-up: Stearns Farm
May 8, 2023
Tour of nursery by West Creek Conservancy

RiverSweep Clean-up – Canalway Partners
May 6, 2023
BCC coordinating Lower Big Creek/Jennings.

RiverSweep May 6, 9-11am

Cleanup 4/29

24th Annual Big Creek Watershed Clean-up
April 29, 2023. [Details] Sponsored in part by:
Extreme Terrain Off-Road Outfitters


See photos


Earth Day EventsParty for the Planet – Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: April 22, 2023. Presented by CrossCountry Mortgage
2nd Annual Earth Day – Parma Heights: April 29, 2023 Greenbriar Commons.


Greater Cleveland Trails & Greenways
Mini-Conference
Sept. 21 & 22, 2022
GCTrails.org for details


Summer Stream Monitoring Program
August, 2022
Details


RiverSweep
May 7, 2022
Big Creek/Lower Harvard
More info...


23d Annual Big Creek Watershed Cleanup
Saturday, April 30, 2022 [More info]

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Industrial Heartland & Cleveland Trails Summit: Unlocking the Economic Potential of the Region
June 2021
gctrails.org


Flyer Stream Monitoring Program
August 2021

 


22nd Annual Big Creek Watershed Cleanup
Saturday, June 5, 2021

Big Creek Connects and Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District with the support of community stakeholders hosted the 22nd annual cleanup. Volunteers picked up stream-side trash at 3 sites:
• Brookfield Park, Brookfield Ave. (between Bellaire and W. 130th)
• Brooklyn City Fire Station (8400 Memphis – Brooklyn)
• Snow Road Picnic Area (Along Big Creek Parkway)

Details

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RiverSweep
May 8, 2021

Big Creek/Lower Harvard

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RiverDay2020 Virtual Event

Cleveland Metroparks’ Monday Meetup presentation

Fall Hike in the Brooklyn Oxbow

Big Creek Bus Tour & Stream Monitoring ProgramDetails
Summer 2019

Big Creek Watershed Cleanup
June 1
[details]
Big Creek Connects and Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District with the support of community stakeholders hosted the 21st annual cleanup. Volunteers picked up stream-side trash at 3 sites:
• Brookfield Park, Brookfield Ave. (between Bellaire and W. 130th)
• Brooklyn City Fire Station (8400 Memphis – Brooklyn)
• Snow Road Picnic Area (Along Big Creek Parkway)

River Day 2019: Where Big Creek meets the Cuyahoga River
May 18, 2019
Tour of the confluence area of the creek and river with info about water pollution and control measures related to the infamous 1969 fire that happened nearby. Examination of construction of the Towpath Trail extension underway while learning about related public access efforts.
Guest speakers: Doug Cooper - former president & CEO, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad; Rob Stoerkel – Community Discharge Permit Program Specialist, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District; and Jim Ridge – Brand Manager, Canalway Partners.

RiverSweep
May 11, 2019
Canalway Partners done-in-a-day cleanup. Big Creek/
Lower Harvard: Meet at Sand Bar, 4002 Jennings Rd., 44109.

Big Creek Watershed Balanced Growth Partnership Meeting
April 17, 2019
Parma Heights

Holiday Party
Dec. 13, 2018

Monday MeetUp: What's Up with Big Creek
November 5, 2018

Big Creek Ramble: Ohio City Bicycle Co-op Social Ride Tour of Big Creek
August 26, 2018

Big Creek Watershed Clean-Up
June 2, 2018
20th annual clean-up!

Greater Cleveland Trails & Greenways Conference
May 31, 2018
Details at gctrails.org

RiverDay
May 19, 2018

RiverSweep
May 12, 2018


In 2017 the GM Foundation and Parma’s Metal Center awarded $10,000 in grants to BCC through its Community Grants program.
GM Foundation donation to Community Partners

GM Foundation & GM Parma Support Community Needs


Big Creek Non-Point Source Implementation Strategic (NPS-IS) Plan approved by the Ohio EPA and this week by the US EPA. See the plan.


In the news - media coverage:

"Brooklyn Intermediate School students study Stickney Creek water quality," John Benson, Cleveland.com, Oct. 1, 2018.

"Big Creek Watershed Clean Up scheduled for June 2 in Parma and Parma Heights," John Benson, Cleveland.com, May 25, 2018.

"Big Creek Connects' efforts with the environment receive additional funding and recognition," Lynette Filips, Old Brooklyn News, Spring 2018.

"Brooklyn Intermediate School students take scientific field trip to Stickney Creek," John Benson, Cleveland.com, Oct. 2, 2017.

"Parma, Brooklyn stormwater issues examined by Chinese officials." Mark Holan, Cleveland.com, July 31, 2017.

"Parma, Brooklyn volunteers help clean up Big Creek watershed," Mark Holan, Cleveland.com, June 4, 2017.

"Parma Boy Scouts and hockey team members help clean up Big Creek watershed," Mark Holan, Cleveland.com, June 6, 2016.

"Brooklyn's Big Creek watershed gets a 'clean sweep' by volunteers," Mark Holan, Cleveland.com, June 5, 2016.

"Big Creek bike-pedestrian greenway eyed for vicinity of abandoned 'Parma Freeway'," Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer: May 8, 2015, p. A1.

"Brooklyn seventh graders learn about stream assessment in Big Creek," Mark Holan, Cleveland.com, Sept. 28, 2014.

"Trail and greenway planners envision a greener, healthier, more connected future for Cuyahoga County," Steven Litt, cleveland.com: June 13, 2014.

"The Friends of Big Creek take a hike and explore the Oxbow area, " By Mark Holan, Special to the Sun News, March 17, 2014.

"Big and small projects try to channel the results of increasing floods," by Karen Schaefer, WKSU Public Radio, August 13, 2013.

"I Did It: Created a watershed group for Big Creek; Small acts for Big Creek," GreenCityBlueLake, February, 2013.

"Friends of Big Creek bring native plants to Parma High," Jack Marschall (Jack's Corner), January 10, 2013, Parma Sun Post.

"Preserving the past, preserving the future: Historical home being restored, sold to preserve Big Creek land," July 17, 2011, by Jaime Anton, The Post.

"Preservation group rehabbing historical North Royalton home on Ridge Road," July 7, 2011, by Sara Macho, Sun News.

"Brooklyn Big Creek Watershed Clean Up turns into fun for volunteers and boy scouts," June 11, 2011, by Mark Holan, Sun News.

"Hikers explore Parma conservation area: West Creek Committee, city share ownership after purchase from Busch family."
Parma Sun Post 05/05/2011 by Mark Holan

"Brook Park considers plan to improve Big Creek watershed"
Sun News 12/02/2010 by Ken Baka

"Parma should preserve land, add storm water detention at Parmatown, study says"
Sun News
11/19/2010 by Bob Sandrick (This article appeared in the 11/18/2010 print issue as "Watershed study challenges Big Creek planners."

"Parma Heights passes resolution for balanced growth initiative"
Sun News
11/16/2010 by Mark Holan

"Group is promoting a cleaner watershed."
Feature article about FOBC by Ken Baka in the Parma Sun Post 9/24/2009.

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) Watershed Grant
NEORSD recognizes that watershed organizations play an important role in helping local governments and residents address flooding, erosion, and water quality concerns through innovative stormwater management practices, and stream and wetland restoration, and that this work compliments the NEORSD's commitment to clean water and supports the goals of the Stormwater Management Program. NEORSD further recognizes the funding challenges faced by watershed organizations. To address this issue and in an effort to build and grow organizations' capabilities, NEORSD instituted a competitive Watershed Grant Program to provide support for staffing and operating costs of qualified watershed organizations.

FOBC is proud to announce qualification and receipt of a Watershed Grant for the fourth year under this program. We are pleased to be a project partner in this program and look forward to contributing to NEORSD's goals for sustainable stormwater management and infrastructure solutions.


Acceptance of the The Big Creek Greenway Trail Alignment and Neighborhood Connector Plan by the Brooklyn City Council.
April 13, 2009
Brooklyn Sun article [pdf]

Big Creek Greenway Trail Plan

Master Plan Report February 2009 - prepared by the Floyd Browne Group [17.4MB pdf ]
Appendix A - Development Guidelines [pdf]
Appendix B - Master Plan Maps [15.8MB pdf]
Appendix C - Parcel Ownership Maps [pdf]
Appendix D - Cost Estimates [pdf]
Appendix E - Frequently Asked Trail Questions [pdf]


Adoption of the Lower Big Creek Valley Greenway Redevelopment & Restoration Plan by the Cleveland City Planning Commission
February 6, 2009

Thanks to all the contributing partners and all who have stood in support of this plan that is so important to Cleveland, the Brooklyn Centre and Old Brooklyn neighborhoods, and to the Big Creek watershed. The plan will be added to the update of the city master plan (Connecting Cleveland 2020 Citywide Plan). It is a major step toward the next phases: funding, engineering, construction and more.

Lower Big Creek Valley Greenway Redevelopment & Restoration Plan
prepared by Floyd Browne Group in association with schmidtcopelandparkerstevens, June 2008. Project partners: Cleveland Metroparks, City of Cleveland, Ohio Canal Corridor, Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation.

The plan presents "a new vision for the Valley Greenway. The creation of this vision incorporates detailed future land use, public access, infrastructure, ecological restoration and environmental regeneration, open space and trail linkages and economic development concepts."

Section One: 1. Introduction; 2. Valley Resources; 3. Public Involvement; 4. Trail Route Alternatives; 5. Trail & Greenway Concept (Upland & Valley Trail Descriptions (19MB)
Section Two: 7. Environmental Regeneration Efforts; 8. Suggested Land Use Changes (Camping Site, Adventure Sports Site, Harshaw Chemical Site, Ecological Restoration - Henninger Landfill, Martin Enterprises Aggregates, Brookside Auto Recycling Yard); 8. Priorities & Next Steps; 9. Funding Strategies (34MB)
Appendix B - Master Plan Maps (27MB)


Study grants:

August 10, 2007 - Trail Alignment Study - TLCI Grant awarded
FOBC and project partners were awarded funding for a feasibility study to connect the Cleveland Metroparks Brookside and Big Creek Reservations with a trail alignment through the City of Brooklyn. FOBC, Cleveland Metroparks, and the cities of Cleveland and Parma join the City of Brooklyn as co-sponsors for the $75,000 study ($60,000 grant with a $15,000 local match) funded by the federal Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) grant program.

The Big Creek Greenway Trail Alignment and Neighborhood Connector Plan will examine potential linkages with surrounding neighborhoods as well as Brooklyn municipal/office/retail areas. The all purpose trail network will provide a safe alternative mode of transportation for its users and identify opportunities for interpretive exhibits and ecological restoration.
  - Brooklyn Sun Journal Aug. 23, 2007 [pdf]
  - FOBC News release [pdf]

May 7, 2007 - Watershed Management Plan - CMAG Grant awarded
Big Creek watershed communities of Brooklyn, Parma, Parma Heights, Brook Park, and the southwest wards of Cleveland partner with FOBC and the Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) to develop a comprehensive community plan for the Big Creek Watershed. The RAP was awarded a $20,000 (with 50% local match) Ohio Coastal Management Assistance Grant to develop the first phase of a Watershed Management Plan—data collection and analysis of information for Watershed Inventory, Assessment and Problem Definition.
  - Coastal Management Assistance Grants award news release: www.ohiodnr.com/news/may07/0522coastalgrants.htm
  - FOBC news release [pdf]


Old Brooklyn News June 2008 [pdf 8.6MB]

Archive coverage in the Sun News:
Brooklyn Sun Journal Dec. 8, 2005 "Towpath, park links eyed"
Brooklyn Sun Journal Dec. 29, 2005 "City will not use eminent domain to create bike trail"
Brooklyn Sun Journal Apr. 27, 2006 "Group helps protect Big Creek"
Brooklyn Sun Journal Jul. 20, 2006 "'Friends' explore city's 'Kingdom' for trail links"

Conceptual plans for proposed trail alignments


Newsletters: Big Creek Watershed News & Notes
Library - selected issues

BIG CREEK NPS-IS PLAN

Document Archive:

BIG CREEK WATERSHED BALANCED GROWTH PLAN - 2010
Plan Cover
Download the Plan (24MB) - includes Wetland Report & Maps (Appendix B)
Download the Wetland Assessment & Prioritization Report Only (Appendix B)

Proceedings - Water Quality public meeting 9/27/12

Proceedings: Above Our Heads, Below Our Feet

Proceedings: Low-Impact, Low-Maintenance Landscaping Trends

Proceedings: Putting the "U" in Urban Watershed Stewardship 3/9/2010

Big Creek Greenway Trail Alignment and Neighborhood Connector Plan - 2009
Big Creek Greenway Trail Alignment and Neighborhood Connector Plan

Master Plan Report [17.4MB]
Development Guidelines
Proposed Routes [15.8MB]

Urbab Wetlands Symposium 9/24

Events archive

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