Coe Lake Nature Trail & Coe Lake Nature Trail & Riparian Restoration Riparian Restoration

ProjectProject

Coe Lake Nature Trail & Coe Lake Nature Trail & Riparian Restoration Riparian Restoration

ProjectProject

Fall/Winter of 2003Fall/Winter of 2003

• The idea was presented to Ms. The idea was presented to Ms. Myers by the city of Berea to Myers by the city of Berea to beautify a neglected green-space beautify a neglected green-space area on the shores of Coe Lake.area on the shores of Coe Lake.

• Ms. Myers spoke with Mrs. Ms. Myers spoke with Mrs. Draves about helping out.Draves about helping out.

• Ms. Myers & Mrs. Draves Ms. Myers & Mrs. Draves expanded the “clean-up” idea expanded the “clean-up” idea into an “educational land lab” into an “educational land lab” idea that would be utilized by idea that would be utilized by BCSD students and the BCSD students and the community.community.

Purpose of ProjectPurpose of Project

To enhance the overall achievement in To enhance the overall achievement in science subjects while fostering a science subjects while fostering a deeper understanding of deeper understanding of environmental concepts for local and environmental concepts for local and global environmental stewardship by global environmental stewardship by providing authentic hands on learning providing authentic hands on learning experiences that are aligned with the experiences that are aligned with the BCSD and Ohio Science Benchmarks.BCSD and Ohio Science Benchmarks.

Presentations BeginPresentations Begin (Procure Funding/In-Kind (Procure Funding/In-Kind

Donations)Donations)

Spring 2004 - PresentSpring 2004 - Present • American Legion Post 91 (allow American Legion Post 91 (allow

access, utilize RR)access, utilize RR)• Business Advisory Council Business Advisory Council

($500.00)($500.00)• Kiwanis (volunteers)Kiwanis (volunteers)• Berea Rotary Club ($8000.00)Berea Rotary Club ($8000.00)• Berea City Club (signage, labor)Berea City Club (signage, labor)• Educational Community Educational Community

Foundation ($1000.00)Foundation ($1000.00)• Blaze Construction (benches, Blaze Construction (benches,

picnic tables, labor)picnic tables, labor)• City of Berea (labor, expertise)City of Berea (labor, expertise)• The Snow Family (major The Snow Family (major

benefactor: $25,000)benefactor: $25,000)• Community Development Block Community Development Block

Grant (CBDG)-Cuyahoga County Grant (CBDG)-Cuyahoga County ($150,000.00)($150,000.00)

Money Received Used for…Money Received Used for…Native PlantsNative Plants

Organic MatterOrganic Matter

TopsoilTopsoil

MulchMulch

Ancillary Ancillary materials materials needed for needed for curriculumcurriculum

SustainabilitySustainability

• Recycled plastic picnic tablesRecycled plastic picnic tables• Recycled foundry sand and ash topsoilRecycled foundry sand and ash topsoil• Recycled concrete/brick porous trail Recycled concrete/brick porous trail

surfacesurface• Use of native stone for trail and Use of native stone for trail and

garden boundariesgarden boundaries• All native plant species used in All native plant species used in

plantings including a native prairieplantings including a native prairie

Fall 2004- PresentFall 2004- PresentSite BeautificationSite Beautification

Community Community Planting DaysPlanting Days

• Many students, Many students, staff and staff and community community members helped members helped beautify Coe Lake.beautify Coe Lake.

• Interesting items Interesting items found in the area:found in the area:refrigeratorsrefrigeratorsmattressesmattressesglass, glass, glass glass, glass, glass & more glass& more glass

Curriculum Writing Summer Curriculum Writing Summer 20052005

• Kindergarten Kindergarten

• 11stst grade grade

• 22ndnd grade grade

• Packaged & Packaged & organized organized curriculum binscurriculum bins

Fall 2005Fall 2005

• K-2 PILOT w/ Fairwood Elementary SchoolK-2 PILOT w/ Fairwood Elementary School• Formation of Coe Lake Advisory Formation of Coe Lake Advisory

CommitteeCommittee• Community Planting DaysCommunity Planting Days

Prairie Planting Spring Prairie Planting Spring 20062006

•Planted in Spring 2006 and took three years until it was established.

•Kurtz Brothers experimental topsoil (composed of waste

foundry sand) as growth medium.

Above picture taken Spring 2008

Opening Opening CeremonyCeremony

May 13, 2006May 13, 2006

Curriculum Writing Summer Curriculum Writing Summer 20062006

• 33rdrd Grade Grade• 44thth Grade Grade• 55thth Grade Grade• Packaged & Packaged &

organized binsorganized bins

Fall 2006Fall 2006

• 3-5 grade PILOT w/ 3-5 grade PILOT w/ Fairwood Elementary Fairwood Elementary SchoolSchool

• Ongoing maintenance & Ongoing maintenance & improvement of the areaimprovement of the area

Since 2006Since 2006

• We have hosted We have hosted over 50 classes from over 50 classes from grade levels K-5.grade levels K-5.

• Since 2004 over 500 Since 2004 over 500 Berea High School Berea High School students have been students have been an integral part of an integral part of the project.the project.

• Since 2005 over 700 Since 2005 over 700 elementary students elementary students have experienced have experienced the Coe Lake Nature the Coe Lake Nature Trail.Trail.

Bridge Completed Summer 2009

Ohio’s Science Standards Ohio’s Science Standards & &

The Coe Lake Nature Trail and Riparian The Coe Lake Nature Trail and Riparian Restoration ProjectRestoration Project

• The Coe Lake curriculum is aligned with Project The Coe Lake curriculum is aligned with Project 2061 benchmarks, OGT science standards and 2061 benchmarks, OGT science standards and National Science Foundation and National Science National Science Foundation and National Science Teacher Association standards for each grade Teacher Association standards for each grade level.level.

• The Riparian Restoration portion of the project The Riparian Restoration portion of the project seeks to improve the vegetative zone along the seeks to improve the vegetative zone along the shore at Coe Lake so that weathering and erosion shore at Coe Lake so that weathering and erosion is minimized. This is being done with selective is minimized. This is being done with selective planting of blooming trees and shrubs.planting of blooming trees and shrubs.

• This project is ongoing and involves Berea City This project is ongoing and involves Berea City School District, The Berea Community School District, The Berea Community Development Cooperation, the city of Berea and Development Cooperation, the city of Berea and the community.the community.

What You Need to KnowWhat You Need to KnowSo That You Can Communicate So That You Can Communicate

Intelligently about This Project to Intelligently about This Project to OthersOthers

• When it started (2003)When it started (2003)• What was done 1What was done 1st st (clean up of the area)(clean up of the area)• What was found? (mattresses,refrig.)What was found? (mattresses,refrig.)• Major contributors? (The Snow Family, Rotary Club, Major contributors? (The Snow Family, Rotary Club,

Cuyahoga County, Blaze Construction, City of Berea)Cuyahoga County, Blaze Construction, City of Berea)• What are in-kind services? (donations in form of goods & What are in-kind services? (donations in form of goods &

services, no cash)services, no cash)• Purpose of project? (Foster an awareness of the Purpose of project? (Foster an awareness of the

environment through the teaching of science outdoors.)environment through the teaching of science outdoors.)• What school piloted the project? (Fairwood)What school piloted the project? (Fairwood)• Who paid for the bridge? (The Snow Family, Cuyahoga Who paid for the bridge? (The Snow Family, Cuyahoga

County)County)• When was the opening ceremony? (May 13,2006)When was the opening ceremony? (May 13,2006)• What sustainable choices were made at Coe Lake?What sustainable choices were made at Coe Lake?