Even as the most urbanized county in Ohio, Cuyahoga County was fortunate to have a significant inventory of open space. However, in many areas its use was limited by fragmented ownership, degraded by mismanagement or poor planning, or remained inaccessible by the general public. County leadership recognized the value of this remaining open space, in terms of the long term benefits that parks, trails, and recreation amenities contribute to environmental protection, how these green space areas improve quality of life, and how redevelopment opportunities may be enhanced.
Produced by County Planning in coordination with regional partners, the Cuyahoga Greenprint was developed to benefit Cuyahoga County’s green spaces. It consists of a website, interactive map tool, technical guide, and a greenprint guide book.
The 2015 Greenprint builds off previous park and environmental planning efforts, especially the original Greenprint produced in 2002.
The intent of the updated Greenprint is to highlight existing greenspaces and continue regional conversations on environmental management, open space protection, and habitat reclamation. Each section of the greenprint includes information about why the values reflected in the document are important, recommendations for communities and land owners to steward the values of Cuyahoga County, and a list of resources for more information.
Year Published: 2016
State: Ohio
Landscape Context: Inland
Housing Density: Urban, Rural
Funding Type: Public
Habitat Focus: Developed
Organizations Involved:
Cuyahoga County Planning Commission
Values:
Water Quality, Floodplains/Flood Prevention, Open Space/Habitat, Recreation, Biodiversity
Stakeholder Involvement:
Stakeholders were consulted; local environmental groups were consulted in the development of the greenprint.
Planning Process:
The Cuyahoga Greenprint was developed by the Cuyahoga Planning Commission to build upon an earlier planning effort in 2002, the Cuyahoga County Greenspace Plan and Greenprint. The greenprint revamp in 2015 included the development of a GIS-based web tool that can be readily updated to reflect current conditions in the built and natural environments allowing the greenprint to more readily respond to opportunities through real-time data and science.
Desired Outcomes:
The Cuyahoga Greenprint aims to be a resource for communities who seek a balanced pattern of development that can accommodate both redevelopment and land conservation. It also seeks to promote more effective land use decisions and best practices that: protect people and property from flooding and stormwater events; protect biological diversity; develop a regional trail and greenway system; and provide places where residents can recreate for health and fitness.