| RiverDay - an annual day of service and celebration in the Cuyahoga Watershed |
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Last updated 5/1/13 | |
          We would like to thank our RiverDay sponsors: (Click on the logos to view their websites.)     
   
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RiverDay 2013, Saturday, May 18 Friends of the Crooked River and Cuyahoga RAP are proud to sponsor the next RiverDay, scheduled for May 18, 2013. We are building this year's schedule. Check back often for more events!An event with a proud history Under the leadership of Michael Kaplan, the first RiverDay was held on April 21, 1991. Over 2,000 people participated in 23 events conducted on that forty degree, rainy day. The purpose of the day was to encourage people to get out and spend some time at the River, participating in stewardship, recreational and educational experiences sponsored by various park districts, municipalities and civic and religious organizations. The Director of the Department of Interior kicked off events in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Over 225 volunteers removed trash from park’s floodplain, and the National Park Service removed 113 cars from a riverbank near its administrative offices. News outlets, including radio, TV and newspapers featured advanced publicity as well as extensive coverage of the occasion. WKSU produced over a dozen educational spots on the Cuyahoga River that ran on 89.7 before, during and after the event. Friends of the Crooked River converted this radio series into an award-winning curriculum for middle school students. Since that promising beginning, twenty-two annual RiverDays have been held, following the multi-event under the single umbrella format. Each brought significant media attention and watershed-wide participation. Each focused on a timely theme. RiverDay 2013: From Burning River to Earning River The 23rd annual RiverDay celebrates the comeback river, the Cuyahoga. With the improvement of water quality, the economic promise of the river is being realized everywhere along its 100 mile course. On the lower river, Rivergate transforms the navigation channel into a recreational hub. Crooked River Adventures begins its third profitable year as a canoe livery in Kent. The City of Cuyahoga Falls looks to the river to increase its appeal as a tourist destination. So get to know your river, choose an event, come out and share the progress. We would like to thank Appalachian Outfitters for its generous support of last year's RiverDay. Appalachian Outfitters has a longstanding tradition of supporting river conservation. Event List This year we have many events. To help you select the right experience for you and your family, we have listed the events 3 ways:
Click on the map or scroll down to find your activity. 
Pre-RiverDay Events These events take place before May 18. Check them out!Euclid Creek Invasive Plant Pull & Bioswale Garden Maintenance Event Saturday, May 11 9 AM - Noon Volunteers are needed to help remove invasive plants. Join us at 9:00 AM at the Marina parking lot to learn about the Bioswale and help Friends of Euclid Creek (FOEC) with weeding and trash removal. Join us at 10:00 AM at the Park Entrance parking lot to learn about Garlic Mustard, a rapidly spreading invasive plant, and to help with its removal. Wildwood State Park, Cleveland—located at E. 174th Street and Lakeshore Boulevard. Email Claire Posius, or call her at 216-524-6580 x16, for more info. Click here to download the flyer. See also cuyahogaswcd.org. Sponsored by the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga SWCD, Friends of Euclid Creek, and ODNR-Wildwood State Park. Back to Event List Kent Parks And Recreation's Watershed Celebration For Kent City Schools Friday, May 17 (Note the date!), 10 AM-1 PM Hands-on aquatic ecology activities along the Cuyahoga River at Heritage Park for Kent school classes. Kayak demonstration and participation in the “Ready, Set, Wear it Ohio!” life jackets awareness campaign. Meet: Location given upon registration. Register and Contact: 330-673-8897. Back to Event List RiverDay Events Munroe Falls RiverDay Events & FestivalPancake Breakfast 7 AM – 11 AM The City of Munroe Falls will host a pancake breakfast. Donations are gratefully accepted. Meet: Munroe Falls Fire Department, 43 Munroe Falls Ave., Munroe Falls 44262. Sponsored by the City of Munroe Falls. Back to Event List Invasive Plant Pull 9 AM – Noon Volunteers needed to help Boy Scouts and Girl Scout in the annual pulling of the invasive garlic mustard plant along the banks of the river, in a friendly competition, with prizes for the winning team. Wear long pants, closed shoes and gloves. Meet: Brust Park, 128 North Main (Rt. 91), Munroe Falls 44262. Back to Event List Munroe Falls RiverDay Festival 10 AM – 3 PM Help us celebrate and beautify the Cuyahoga River that runs through Munroe Falls with a day of fun, food, and entertainment related to wildlife and the great outdoors! This year we will have tons of entertainment, including live cannon demonstrations, animal appearances from the Lake Erie Science Center, an authentic Shaman river blessing and much, much more! Food provided by commercial vendors. Meet: Brust Park, 128 North Main (Rt. 91), Munroe Falls 44262, next to the Cuyahoga River. Contact: Sarah Hegnauer, (330)697-6545 or sarahhegnauer@hotmail.com, to request a flyer for the event. Sponsored by Munroe Falls Park Board. Back to Event List Migration Bird Walks at Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, and 9:30 AM Join guided bird walks along a one-mile trail through our lakefront preserve. Greet our colorful feathered friends as they rest up before their long journey across Lake Erie. Held rain or shine. Walks led by knowledgeable birders at 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM, and 9:30 AM. Meet: Cleveland Lakefront State Park. Exit #177 from I-90 and Route 2. 8701 Lake Shore Blvd., Cleveland 44102 Contact Elaine Marsh at 330-666-4026 or ohgreenway@gmail.com. Sponsored by Friends of the Crooked River and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. Back to Event List History Walk on Whiskey Island 9 – 11 AM Enjoy the beauty of that special place where the Cuyahoga meets Lake Erie. Many people have enjoyed a sunset at Whiskey Island but the mornings are a peaceful and quiet time. Experience the calmness of a Spring morning and learn about the fascinating history of this place. A residential location, an industrial site and now a park: Whiskey Island has seen many changes. See historical photos and hear about the struggle led by Ed Hauser to save this green space from becoming a gravel dock. Meet: Wendy Park sign, far side of the parking lot, 2800 Whiskey Island, Cleveland 44102. Directions: exit the West Shoreway (Route 2) at the Edgewater Park exit and go eastward following the signs for Wendy Park. More Info on Whiskey Island: 216-631-1876 or planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/whiskey. Contact: John Kaminski at 440-666-1674 or riverkeeper@wideopenwest.com. Sponsored by Friends of the Crooked River Back to Event List West Creek: Storm Surge Cleanup 9 AM - Noon Participate in RiverDay by removing and recycling the floatables from our West Creek floodplains. We will be cleaning a 1-2 mile section of the floodplain on-and-off trail. Pitch in for an hour, two, or more! You’ll still have time to enjoy and celebrate other RiverDay programs throughout the Cuyahoga watershed. Groups encouraged to register in advance. Be sure to dress for the weather and muddy conditions. Bring work gloves if you have them; vinyl gloves can be provided to you. Meet: Watershed Stewardship Center parking lot, 2277 W. Ridgewood Dr., Parma 44134. Register or Contact: 440-887-1968 or www.clevelandmetroparks.com or www.westcreek.org. Sponsored by Cleveland Metroparks and West Creek Conservancy. Back to Event List Big Creek: Historic Lower Big Creek Valley Tour 1 - 2:30 PM Discover Big Creek’s history hidden under the Pearl Road (Brooklyn-Brighton) Bridge. Learn about two of Cleveland's earliest settlements and adjoining industry. View historic bridge remnants; examine architecture, review historic full-color maps. Learn about the Greenway Plan for the valley. Refreshments. Meet: In parking lot behind Sal's Restaurant, 3850 Pearl Rd., Cleveland 44109. Contact: Bob Gardin, bgardin@friendsofbigcreek.org or 216-269-6472 or www.friendsofbigcreek.org. Sponsored by Friends of Big Creek and Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation. Back to Event List RiverDay Concert near Cleveland's Tallest Waterfall 3 – 5 PM Cap your RiverDay with live, classic American folk music, at historic Mill Creek Falls. Roland Kausen Band will perform early American folk music, with Roland on guitar, Jim on the fiddle, and Mitch on the mandolin. Mill Creek is a tributary of the Cuyahoga River and the historic site of Cleveland's first sawmill, gristmill and stone quarry, built c.1799. It is a Cleveland Metroparks facility. Bring lawn chairs and a camera! Meet: Mill Creek Falls, 3850 Pearl Rd., Cleveland 44109. Contact: Bob Gardin, bgardin@friendsofbigcreek.org or 216-269-6472 or 8404 Webb Terrace, Cleveland 44105. Near Broadway, Turney, Warner and Miles Avenues, just North of Garfield Heights Contact: 216-469-4806 Sponsored by Broadway Public Art. Back to Event List Cuyahoga Valley National Park Cleanup 10 AM - Noon and 1-3 PM This annual event provides the opportunity to celebrate, protect, and restore our National Heritage River —the Cuyahoga. Volunteers needed to plant trees and remove trash within the Cuyahoga River watershed. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, sturdy boots, and work gloves. Family-friendly projects for ages 7 and older. Location given upon registration. For more information and to register, contact the volunteer office at 330-657-2299 or volunteer@forcvnp.org. Presented by the National Park Service and the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Back to Event List Cuyahoga Valley National Park Junior Ranger: Rambling Along the River 9:30 - 11:30 AM Kids ages 7 – 12 can become water quality scientists. Take a walk along the Towpath Trail, put on goggles and gloves, and test the Cuyahoga’s water. Complete 3 Junior Ranger Activities and earn a patch. (See Page 14, CVNP Spring Schedule of Events.) Meet: Location given upon registration. Register or Contact: 800-642-3297 ext. 100 Presented by the National Park Service. Back to Event List Cuyahoga Valley National Park Water Quality Testing 1:30 - 3:30 PM Stop by to chat with a ranger about how we test and monitor the Cuyahoga River. Meet: Boston Store Visitor Center, 1548 Boston Mills Rd., Peninsula 44264. Back to Event List RiverDay: Art & Music In Peninsula Peninsula is a great Cuyahoga River town. Take time to stroll down historic Main Street, watch the river roll by, and/or participate in nearby events. Back to Event List Heritage Farms: Fairies on the Farm 10 AM – 4 PM Irish Music, Hidden Fairies, Fairy Circle, visits by a Forest Fairy and Tooth Fairy, Fairy activities and prizes. Admission $5 for children and $3 for adults Meet: 6050 Riverview Road, Peninsula 44264. Contact: 330-657-2330 or heritagefarms.com. Sponsored by Heritage Farms. Back to Event List The Log Cabin Gallery Spring Exhibit 3 – 5 PM “Meet the Artists” Reception in Peninsula’s historic log cabin. Meet: 1671 Main Street (in back, up North Canal), Peninsula 44264. Contact: 330-657-2670 or thelogcabingallery.com. Sponsored by The Log Cabin Gallery. Back to Event List Peninsula Art Academy 5 - 7 PM Watershed art enthusiasts are invited to share the opening of our 2013 membership show, an exhibition of original works by artists working in several different media, including two- and three-dimensional works. The show’s theme, Ebb and Flow, reflects the movement of the artists’ life, art, the people through our valley. In addition, the show reveals the artists’ view of the rivers of the world and the organic forces that make up our existence. Greet artists working in the Ebb and Flow of the Cuyahoga watershed. The show runs May 18 – June 22. Meet: 1600 Mill Street, West, Peninsula 44264. Contact: 330-657-2248 or info@peninsulaartacademy.com. Sponsored by Peninsula Art Academy. Back to Event List RiverDay’s End Night Bike Ride 8 PM Century Cycle invites all their cycling friends to join this night ride, part of its 19th season of Night Rides on the Towpath Trail. These rides are FUN and FREE! All skill levels are welcome. We meet at the Century Cycle Peninsula store (Rte. 303 between Rt 8 and I-271, next to the Winking Lizard Tavern). Parking is available at the Lock 29 Trailhead (follow the signs around the corner; it is north of the store). Rides are 12 to 15 miles long (depending on what the group decides), which usually takes from one and a half to two hours. You must have your own bicycle, helmet, and headlight. Usually, a group goes to the Winking Lizard after the ride and re-lives past cycling adventures. Free; start at 8 PM. Contact: 330-657-2209 or info@centurycycles.com, or goto www.centurycycles.com/for/NightRides. Sponsored by Century Cycles. Back to Event List RiverDay at Cascade Village 10 AM - Noon Join us to learn about the Little Cuyahoga and tackle litter on the banks of the river as it passes through Cascade Village, downtown Akron. Work with students from Environmental Akron, a student group from The University of Akron, students from Kent State, residents of Cascade Village and Donna Webb of Cascade Village Public Art. Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear work-boots or old shoes. Long Sleeves, slacks and work-gloves recommended. Trash bags provided. Children under 18 must have adult supervision. Pre-registration required for groups. Meet: The Community Center, 210 E. North Street, Akron 44304. Bus Transit: 112 Elizabeth Pkwy, Route 34, Cascade Valley Uhler, www.akronmetro.org. Contact: Donna Webb at dwebb@uakron.edu, 330-253-9484, or Cascade Village, 330-414-4954. Sponsored by Cascade Village Public Art and The University of Akron. Back to Event List Bike Hike along The Little Cuyahoga River 11 AM - Finish Ride with us and get to know the Little Cuyahoga River from the historic Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Experience Akron’s bright prospects to preserve its past and better its future as the “Gateway to Cuyahoga Valley National Park”. Bring your bike and helmet. Meet: The historic Mustill Store, 248 Ferndale St., Akron 44304. Contact: Rowan MacTaggart, rowan@cascadelocks.org or 330-374-5625, or www.cascadelocks.org. Sponsored by Cascade Valley Park Association. Back to Event List 2013 City of Cuyahoga Falls Great American RiverDay Cleanup & Beautification Project 10 AM - 2 PM Volunteers are invited to help clean up litter and debris along the Cuyahoga River and on public grounds throughout the community, plant flowers at park shelters and assist with an invasive plant pull. Trash bags, planting supplies and lunch will be provided for project volunteers. Contact Becky McCleary to register at mcclearyrm@cityofcf.com or 330-971-8201. Sponsored by the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Keep America Beautiful and State Road Donato's Pizza. Back to Event List Munroe Falls RiverDay Festival 10 AM – 3 PM Help us celebrate and beautify the Cuyahoga River which runs through Munroe Falls, with a day of fun, food, entertainment, children’s activities, displays and demonstrations related to wildlife and the great outdoors! This year we will have tons of entertainment, including live cannon demonstrations, animal appearances from the Lake Erie Science Center, an authentic Shaman river blessing and much, much more! The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts (and other volunteers) will participate in the annual pulling of the invasive garlic mustard plant along the banks of the river, in a friendly competition, with prizes for the winning team. Those who wish to participate in the weed pulling should wear long pants, closed shoes and gloves. Meet: Brust Park, 128 North Main (Rt. 91), Munroe Falls, next to the Cuyahoga River. Contact: Sarah Hegnauer, (330)697-6545 or sarahhegnauer@hotmail.com, to request a flyer for the event. Sponsored by Munroe Falls Park Board. Donations are gratefully accepted. Back to Event List Kent Environmental Council & Kent Parks And Recreation’s RiverDay Festival Celebrating The Past, Present & Future of Our Watershed Kent has many options for RiverDay activities. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Kent Parks And Recreation's Watershed Celebration For Kent City Schools Friday, May 17 (Note the date!), 10 AM-1 PM Hands-on aquatic ecology activities along the Cuyahoga River at Heritage Park for Kent school classes. Kayak demonstration and participation in the “Ready, Set, Wear it Ohio!” life jackets awareness campaign. Meet: Location given upon registration. Register and Contact: 330-673-8897. Back to Event List Kent RiverDay Festival 10 AM – 1 PM Join us at Plum Creek Park for a morning of family-centered activities. Plum Creek, now a free-flowing tributary of the Cuyahoga River, was recently restored and landscaped with native plants. Family-friendly activities will focus on the past, present and future of the Cuyahoga watershed and will include demonstrations, presentations, children’s art and environmental and historical displays. Experience Stone Age Indian teepee, a grass loom, rain barrels, and tiny aquatic animals. Participate in hand-on activities, learn about recreation and river stewardship opportunities, and more. Help us break a world record and raise safety awareness by joining the “Ready, Set, Wear it Ohio” life jacket (PDF) awareness campaign. Meet: Plum Creek Park, Cherry St., Kent 44240. Contact: 330-673-8897 or www.kentparksandrec.com or kentenvironment.org Sponsored by Kent Environmental Council and Kent Parks and Recreation. Back to Event List Kayak, Canoe, Tube & Bike Rentals 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM Rent a kayak, canoe or tube or bike and have a RiverDay adventure on or near the Cuyahoga River (weather and water-level permitting). Reservation strongly advised. FEE Meet: Tannery Park, 100 Stow St., Kent 44240. Contact: 330-541-7467 or kent.edu/crookedriver Please note the following, from ODOT: I just wanted to reach out and let you know that we still have construction ongoing at the old Crain Ave. bridge in Kent. We still have a temporary causeway installed which will still be in place on Saturday, May 18th. As you probably know, this causeway necks down the river which increases the speed of the water. It also has overhead metal tubes which a kayaker could hit if the water level is high enough. We’ve placed an orange sign near the take out area off of River Bend Blvd. to alert kayakers of the construction downstream. The causeway will most likely remain until this July for us to complete our work. It will then be removed and the river will be restored to its original channel. Note: You can avoid this construction by putting in at Fuller Park. Sponsored by Crooked River Adventures. Back to Event List Kent Community Potluck Dinner 6 PM – 8 PM Festivities will continue with the Kent Community Dinner complete with live dinner music and a short program on the Native American view of the value of running water. Please bring some food to share to this potluck. Meet: Plum Creek Park, Cherry St., Kent 44240. Contact: 330-678-8760 Organized by All Together Now Inc. Back to Event List Native American-Led Celebration of River 8 PM – 10 PM As dusk approaches with a teepee in the distance courtesy of the Portage County Historical Society, take a seat around the central fire for the final event of the day. The CELEBRATION OF RUNNING WATER will give attendees the chance to join and be led by Native Americans dressed in their regalia (traditional dress) as together we drum, sing, and dance in celebration of the Cuyahoga. Meet: Plum Creek Park, Cherry St., Kent 44240. Contact: president.nasa.ksu@gmail.com Organized by KSU's Native American Student Association. Back to Event List Camp Hi Canoe Livery Upper Cuyahoga Sampler 10 AM and 2 PM Camp Hi, 12274 Abbott Road, Hiram, is offering a special RiverDay rate of $10.00 per watercraft for a canoe or kayak trip. Pre-trip instruction will be included. Lifejackets, paddles and transportation back to the cars will also be included. This short section of wooded stream is a great sample of the undeveloped beauty of the Upper Cuyahoga River. This is not a guided trip. Completion time is 1 hour on average. Pre-registration will be required with a call to 330-569-7621 at least 2 days ahead. Back to Event List Riverside Bird Walk at Eldon Russell Park 9 - 11 AM Go for the goal at RiverDay’s upstream outpost in Geauga County: 50 species of migratory birds including sandpipers, vireos, flycatchers, cuckoos, thrushes, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks, buntings and colorful warblers, including the “Jewel of the Cuyahoga”: the Prothonotary Warbler. Circumstances permitting, netting for banding purposes provides an in-hand look at this golden beauty. For more information: dbest@geaugaparkdistrict.org. Click here for map. Back to Event List |