The Richfield Joint Recreation District (Richfield JRD) has taken over operation of the formerly known Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) Camp Julia Crowell and Camp Hilaka.

Pat Norris, Trustee and Treasurer of the Richfield JRD since its inception in 2014, explained the process of acquiring the property, which is now referred to as the Richfield Heritage Preserve.

]“Both the Township Trustees and the Village Council voted to form The [Richfield JRD] in June of 2014. Voters in both Richfield Township and the Village of Richfield voted the following November to approve property tax levies to support the acquisition and improvement of the [Richfield Heritage Preserve] property as well as a ten-year operating levy,” Norris said.

These Township Trustees appoint three members to the Richfield JRD Board, while the Village Council selects another three. These six people appoint a seventh member to the Board. Norris detailed that because Richfield voters elect their representatives who appoint Richfield JRD members, the citizens of Richfield have a say in what happens to the Richfield Heritage Preserve.

“While the park is a public park and while it is open to the public no matter where our visitors may come from, the property owners in Richfield are paying for the acquisition and operation of the property; they have a voice in governance because they elect the folks who appoint the Board,” Norris said.

Norris, who has a background in Public Finance, detailed how the Richfield Heritage Preserve will affect the community.

“Had the effort to acquire [the Richfield Heritage Preserve] not been successful, it is likely that the land would have been sold to a developer, and it is likely that the developer would have annexed the property to the Village [of Richfield]. With access to water, sewer, and zoning that permits higher density, it is very likely that well over 300 new homes would have been constructed on the 336 acres . . . . [Richfield residents] have a great resource in Revere Schools . . . . If [the Richfield Heritage Preserve] were a residential subdivision generating [about] 460 new children for the system, but generating only enough property tax to pay for [about] 25% of these new students . . . many of the folks who grew up here would be forced to move simply because of the increased property tax burden,” Norris said.

Friends of Crowell-Hilaka (FoCH), a citizen-led group that calls itself a “fan club” of the park, works to raise funds and awareness for the property. One of its board members, Corey Ringle, voiced how the Richfield Heritage Preserve has influenced her recently, as she camped there as a young Girl Scout.

“I’ve [learned] more about my favorite place than I ever imagined I would . . . all the history, patent research, easements and grants, forming new political entities, bonds and levies, etc. And as [FoCH members have] spent all this time together [at FoCH], [we have] gotten to know a ton of people, becoming good friends. And finally, my favorite, is watching people fall in love with a place that I loved my whole life,” Ringle said.

Ringle outlined some improvements that have been made to the property since its acquisition by the Richfield JRD.

“The roads, trails, waste water management area were all inspected; basic repairs were made and weeds cut back. Recently that work has slowed down while the [Richfield JRD] Board works on the Master Plan,” Ringle said.

Lynn Richardson, a former Girl Scout leader who has served as the FoCH Historian since July of 2009 and as the Secretary for almost a year, explained her first impression of the property.

“I was amazed at how beautiful [the Richfield Heritage Preserve] was, how the buildings, campsites, and trails were all positioned so that everything flowed beautifully,” Richardson said.

Ringle further voiced how the Richfield Heritage Preserve had come to include one of only 26 sections of the Buckeye Trail, Ohio’s State Scenic Trail.

“[FoCH was] very excited to help the Buckeye Trail install a new trail that traverses the entire property: starting at the Oviatt House, passing Kirby’s Mill and Garfield, following the main stream up to Lake Linnea, through Pine Lake Trail and out the main entrance,” Ringle said.

The Master Plan Draft for the park, which includes plans for upkeep, security, and future intentions for the property, was revealed on October 10 at the Board of Trustees’ meeting.