Cuyahoga Valley Communities Council - History

Organization of the Council

The Council was formed to provide an organization through which local governments and the National Park Service could together address their respective concerns in the development and operation of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (CVNRA).

The CVNRA was established in June 1975.  It was one of the first "urban parks" in the national park system. More significantly, it was the first to be located in a growing suburban area governed by a large number of political jurisdictions who would retain their authority and responsibility within its boundaries for providing public services, managing land development, and improving and maintaining all public roads.

The Council was organized at a meeting called by County Commissioners Frank Pokorny (Cuyahoga) and Don Stephens (Summit) at the Boston Elementary School in December 1975. Initially, the Council was a simple association of representatives from sixteen local governments with jurisdiction in areas within and adjoining CVNRA and the National Park Service. In December 1976 representation was invited from six school districts serving the area. Leadership was provided by Co-chairs and a Steering Committee.

In December 1979, the Council was re-organized as a  501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, and Cuyahoga and Summit Counties were invited to be represented. In 1982, four nearby local governments and a school district were also invited to be represented. Then, in 1986 the two metropolitan park districts serving the area were invited to be represented. With incorporation, leadership was provided by a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer (later, Secretary-Treasurer) and other members of a Board of Trustees.

Activities of the Council

Influenced by the recent opening of Blossom Music Center and The Coliseum, communities represented on the Council were at first gravely concerned with the potential impact of an onslaught of visitors to CVNRA and the burden that this might place upon police, fire, and emergency services, and upon roadway capacities along with concerns about the potential loss of tax revenues to support these services. Together with the National Park Service, the Council was also concerned with any unsightly over-commercialization that might be attracted to the borders of CVNRA.

These initial concerns set the basic agenda for Council activities in its early years. Recently, the Council has undertaken a variety of other activities and issues, suitable to its role as a regional organization, but this basic agenda does continue to remain a central focus.

In 1992, the National Park Service authorized a special study of the administrative history of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. The history, entitled A Green Shrouded Miracle, was compiled and written by Ron Cockrell. [You can go to the study online by clicking the link.] In particular, "Chapter 10. Relations with the Community" deals primarily with a history of the early years of the Cuyahoga Valley Communities Council.