Public Notices, Project Updates, and Alerts
12/20/24
Chippewa Lake Docking Meeting Scheduled for January 7, 2025
Medina County Park District will host a public information session Tuesday, January 7 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Buffalo Creek Retreat, 8708 Hubbard Valley Rd., Seville, to discuss docking at Chippewa Lake. With stakeholder input, the park district has, since September, been developing a new set of rules and guidelines in an effort to make the docking 'program' simpler and more equitable.
In addition to docking, the agenda for January 7 will include a brief summary of policing statistics from 2024, an overview of planned upgrades to the outlet plates near Kennard Road, new information about water-quality testing, and the construction of public access to Chippewa Lake Park from Lake Road.
As drafted, overnight docking will remain limited to individuals who own or rent an occupied dwelling in the three waterfront communities. In addition, starting in 2025, it would no longer be necessary for individuals to pay to reinstate 'lake rights' that may have been inactive in the past. Recorded deeds with docking rights will continue to be recognized by the park district.
The stakeholders, together with MCPD Director Nathan Eppink, MCPD Commissioner Dennis Neate, and MCPD Police Officer Andrew Kellar, have considered minimum widths and maximum lengths for docks, and more. An up-to-date summary of the docking proposal is available HERE.
"It's still a work in progress," Eppink said. "We hope to have a final recommendation ready for the park commissioners' consideration in January or February, after the public session at Buffalo Creek. The stakeholder meetings have been helpful and encouraging," he added.
Information about Chippewa Lake can be found here: https://chippewalakeohio.com/
11/15/24
11/1/24
Seasonal Site Closures for Chippewa Lake
The Chippewa Lake Paddlecraft Launch at 8108 Lake Road and the Chippewa Birding and Bridle Trail at 7782 Ballash Road in Westfield Township are open from May 1 to October 31. Both areas close on November 1 and reopen on May 1. The paddlecraft parking lot cannot be salted due to its proximity to the wetland, and the birding and bridle trail remains closed during wet months to prevent trail erosion.
The public boat dock is taken out of the water annually on November 15. Crews will place it back in mid-April as weather allows. Visit https://chippewalakeohio.com/ for more information about Chippewa Lake.
10/10/24
Water Shut off in Parks
As of October 15, the water will be shut off in the parks. Water fountains will not be operational. The water station at the dog park will also be turned off. Please remember to bring your own water after this date. This measure is necessary to prevent freezing pipes during the winter months. The water will be turned back on in the late spring. Thank you for understanding.
10/7/24
The entire Chippewa Inlet Trail is now open!
Over the course of a year, the Chippewa Inlet Trail was closed from Chippewa Road to State Route 162 for a wetland restoration and trail reconstruction project. The project focused on diverting water from the Chippewa Inlet through more than 4,000 feet of linear wetland to reduce nutrients and improve water quality north of Chippewa Lake. Portions of the trail were permanently re-routed to accommodate the wetland restoration, including two new 100’ bridges over the wetland. The project improved sections of the popular walking and biking trail by making it more accessible during wet weather.
Funding for the wetland construction project was provided by H2Ohio. Launched by Governor Mike DeWine in 2019, H2Ohio is a collaborative water quality effort to provide clean and safe water to Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency each has a significant role in H2Ohio through the natural infrastructure of wetlands, the reduction in nutrient runoff, and increasing access to clean drinking water and quality sewer systems. To learn more, visit h2.ohio.gov.
Warning Flag System in Place at Chippewa Lake
The warning flag system alerts boaters and swimmers to water conditions at Chippewa Lake due to harmful algal blooms or other safety concerns.
