As many of you know, FOBC members have advocated for the Lower Big Creek Valley Greenway Redevelopment & Restoration Plan, the study to develop a master plan and an economic revitalization strategy for the Lower Big Creek area between Brookside Park and Jennings Rd. The LBC plan combines information contained in past planning studies by NOACA and others. It is funded with support from the Ohio & Erie Canal Association, Cleveland Metroparks, Ward 15 Councilman Brian Cummins and Ward 16 Councilman Kevin Kelley, and the City of Cleveland. Floyd Browne Group is the consultant under contract to the 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." A Lower Big Creek trail alignment, when combined with a potential Big Creek Greenway Trail Alignment and Neighborhood Connector Plan -- the study currently underway in Brooklyn to develop preferred alignments for a trail expansion that will connect the Metroparks Brookside Reservation to the Big Creek Reservation south of Brookpark Road -- will enable users to access the amenities of the outer reaches of the Big Creek Parkway on one end, and the Towpath Trail and other destinations via the other. Tom Collins, Old Brooklyn CDC Project Manager of the LBC study, has informed us that a significant event for moving the plan forward will occur on Friday, February 6.

The plan will be presented to the Cleveland City Planning Commission for adoption and insertion into the update of the city master plan (Connecting Cleveland 2020 Citywide Plan). This will help secure funding for the easement, engineering and construction phases. George Cantor, Cleveland Planning Commission and Robyn Sandys, Old Brooklyn CDC will introduce the presentation by Dennis Mersky, Floyd Browne Group. Showing strong buy in from the community is essential to the presentation. Visible and consistent support for this plan is important when it comes to securing funds. A strong base of community endorsement is heeded as the project moves through the budgetary process. Many of you attended the public meetings during the planning process.

If you are able, please join FOBC for the LBC Plan presentation and show your support. The City Planning Commission meets at 9:00 AM in Room 514 of Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Ave. Please attend, sign in for this agenda item, and stand in support when the chair asks who is here for this item. Parking is available in the City Hall parking lot accessed from Lakeside Ave immediately West of City Hall.

If you cannot attend please send an e-mail stating your support and why you believe this is important to Cleveland, the Brooklyn Centre and Old Brooklyn neighborhoods and to the Big Creek watershed. Send your message of support to George Cantor (gcantor at city.cleveland.oh.us) and your communication will be inserted into the meeting record. If you prefer you can send a letter to the Cleveland City Planning Commission, c/o George Cantor, 601 Lakeside Ave. #501, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. This plan is a major step towards advancing similar efforts throughout the Big Creek watershed and throughout the region. We greatly appreciate your continued interest and support. Learn more about the LBC Plan at http://friendsofbigcreek.org/news.htm

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