East Cleveland resident Dont茅 Gibbs has fond childhood memories at Forest Hill Park: playing baseball, feeding ducks at the pond and attending family barbecues.
But over the years, he said the park鈥檚 amenities, facilities and maintenance has slipped. Overgrown weeds and foliage overwhelm cracked tennis courts and baseball diamond dugouts. There鈥檚 no running water, electricity or public restrooms, he said.
That鈥檚 why when news came of a potential deal between Cleveland Metroparks and the city of East Cleveland to revitalize East Cleveland鈥檚 portion of the 248-acre park, which was once part of John D. Rockefeller鈥檚 estate, Gibbs was optimistic.
That hope, however, quickly faded when the deal fell apart after goodwill on both sides apparently soured. East Cleveland City Council President Juanita Gowdy claimed in an August letter to Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman that a Metroparks employee collected a $2 million check from the city before the deal was finalized or brought before City Council, an accusation Cleveland Metroparks denied before backing out of the deal.
The collapse has left residents holding the bag.
鈥淭he first emotions were embarrassment and frustration,鈥� Gibbs said of learning the news. 鈥淲hen you think about the politics and dynamics, it鈥檚 like, 'How did we get to the point where we鈥檙e about to throw away this multi-million investment?'鈥�
Gibbs sprung into action and convened a meeting of neighbors and community stakeholders at his East Cleveland home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 sort of like abyss in the city now, but 鈥� I kind of view [the park] as this hidden gem,鈥� Gibbs said. 鈥淵ou know it鈥檚 there, but you鈥檙e trying to figure out how do I engage with it, how do I utilize it?鈥�
He and his neighbors, who call their group 鈥淔or the Love of Forest Hill,鈥� drafted letters to both Cleveland Metroparks and East Cleveland City Council urging them to return to the negotiating table. Gibbs mailed the letters Monday with over 400 resident signatures. A similar has more than 500 signatures.
鈥淭his is something East Cleveland residents and the region has been looking forward to for generations,鈥� Gibbs said. 鈥淭his is a once-in-a-lifetime infusion of expertise and a way for us to really show the region this is how you intentionally bring life into a historic park: working with community, working with elected officials and a park system like Metroparks.鈥�
The $2 million check had recently been returned undeposited to the mayor's office and voided, according to Gowdy, East Cleveland's city council president, and the city's Council Clerk Eric Brewer.
Officials did not produce records documenting the finances involved in the deal.
The city is planning to use its federal stimulus dollars to proceed with its own park revitalization plan without Metroparks, Gowdy said.
Cleveland Metroparks declined to comment further on the matter.
