Public preferences for
future development at Dike 14

Benches, bike paths, bird sanctuary top the list of future considerations

The following information was compiled by Barbara A. Martin for the Dike 14 Committee, a citizens' group, on October 14, 2002.

The public had its final opportunity to submit ideas for consideration by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Working Review Committee on September 17 at the "Goals for Dike 14" meeting.

Since September 17, the Working Review Committee (WRC) held two "work sessions" at the Bratenahl Community Center (Sept. 24 and Oct. 8) to evaluate the 99 different suggestions/preferences for Dike 14 that were submitted during the ODNR 8-month Project.

At the September 24 work session, the WRC divided into three evaluating teams. Each team discussed each of the 99 suggestions and assigned each suggestion to one of three categories: 1) Should be "retained" for consideration at Dike 14; 2) Should be "referred" to Gordon State Park
or elsewhere on the Cleveland lakefront (between the shoreline and the railroad tracks); or 3) Should be "removed" from further consideration.

At the October 8 work session, the WRC reviewed and clarified its categorizing of the 99 items.

A very high level of agreement was reached by the WRC for "retaining" multiple and compatible suggestions at Dike 14. High levels of agreement were also reached by the WRC in the other categories of "referring" and "removing."

The following are the Working Review Committee results that will be available for review:

A. All three teams agree "to retain" 28 suggestions for Dike 14:

1. All-season use
2. Benches, quiet seating areas
3. Bike paths* (Conditional)
4. Bird sanctuary
5. Cross-discipline projects (e.g. biology & art)
6. Fishing piers
7. Flora & fauna improvements
8. Friendly to birds and wildlife
9. Habitat restoration
10. Hawk tower
11. Hiking trails
12. Informational kiosks/signposts
13. Mile running track & health circuit
14. Nature preserve
15. Outdoor education/experimental site for biology projects
16. Pedestrian access to edge of Lake Erie
17. Ponds
18. Scenic outlook
19. Scopes for distance viewing
20. Trails and paths
21. Views of the lake
22. Wetlands
23. Wildflowers
24. Observatory* (meaning bird observatory)
25. Picnic tables (a few)
26. Rest rooms, latrines
27. Roller blades* (Conditional)
28. Windproof shelter

* Conditional consensus: Identified need for further discussion on nature trails and bikes and roller blades.

B. All three teams agree to "refer" 19 suggestions to either Gordon State Park or elsewhere on the lakefront. The concept of "referring" a suggestion is not in anyway a criticism, but rather an indication that for a variety of reasons these suggestions would be better suited to other areas.

1. Aquarium
2. Audubon Center
3. Beach
4. Boat docking areas/facilities (public)
5. Boat ramps
6. Children's play area(s)
7. Concessions, refreshments
8. Dog park (segregated area)
9. Ferry & boat tours, charter boats
10. Fishing boat
11. Hulett relocation site
12. Kids activities: ropes course, parachute, cooperative games
13. Kids World of Games
14. Outdoor theatre
15. Paddle boats, kayaks
16. Restaurants, five star
17. Seasonal dock facilities
18. Swimming (beach)
19. Watercraft school

C. All three teams agree to place the following 12 suggestions in the "remove" from further consideration category (an indication that it either already exists elsewhere or would be better situated elsewhere).

1. African American Cultural Garden
2. Arboretum
3. Community Center
4. Dirt bike track
5. Greenhouse
6. Indoor rain forest
7. Nudist/naturist park
8. Planetarium
9. Prison
10. Swimming (inland lake)
11. Trap shooting/skeet
12. Willow nursery (grow them for bioengineering projects)

D. The remaining 42 items were variously categorized by the three teams but were clearly "not retained" for consideration at Dike 14. A breakdown of the vote is given next to each item.

1. Amphitheater for live entertainment, plays, concerts [1 remove, 2 refer]
2. Amusement Park (small, with kid's mini-mart) [2 remove, 1 refer]
3. Amusement Park/Theme Park (large) [2 remove, 1 refer]
4. Athletics fields (Soccer, Rugby, Lacrosse) [2 remove, 1 refer]
5. Audubon Center [2 refer, 1 retain]
6. Boys and Girls Clubs [2 remove, 1 refer]
7. Campground [1 remove, 2 refer]
8. Condos to support park development [2 remove, 1 refer]
9. Cultural arts indoor/outdoor theatre [1 remove, 2 refer]
10. Daylight Doan Brook, create side streams [2 remove, 1 retain]
11. Driving range [2 remove, 1 refer]
12. Duck hunting [2 remove, 1 refer]
13. Education center building (environmental/multi-topic) [2 refer, 1 retain]
14. Entertainment Complex, entertainment stage [1 remove, 2 refer]
15. Event venue: for weddings, etc. [1 remove, 1 refer, 1 retain]
16. Fireworks, Air show watching [2 remove, 1 retain]
17. Flower garden [1 remove, 2 refer]
18. Gazebo [2 refer, 1 retain]
19. Gift shop promoting Cleveland [1 remove, 2 refer]
20. Go-cart racing [2 remove, 1 refer]
21. Hi-rise housing, middle class [2 remove, 1 refer]
22. Horseback riding stable, bridle path [2 remove, 1 refer]
23. Hotel or motel [1 remove, 2 refer]
24. Ice skating [2 remove, 1 refer]
25. Jet skis [1 remove, 2 refer]
26. Kids activities 1: play areas, petting zoo, forts" [1 remove, 2
refer]
27. Lakefront resort, 1-night stays [1 remove, 2 refer]
28. Museum [1 remove, 2 refer]
29. Picnic areas [2 refers, 1 retain]
30. Play fields [1 remove, 2 refer]
31. Putt-putt golf [2 remove, 1 refer]
32. Sculpture overlaid with other uses [2 refer, 1 retain]
33. Sculpture park or garden [2 refer, 1 retain]
34. Sports bar [2 remove, 1 refer]
35. Summer opera program [1 remove, 2 refer]
36. Telescope [1 remove, 1 refer, 1 retain]
37. Underwater tunnels [1 remove, 2 refer]
38. Water Park & associated entertainment [1 remove, 2 refer]
39. Waterfall & park [1 remove, 2 refer]
40. Wind turbine park [2 remove, 1 refer]

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Back to main Dike 14

Vegetation has grown over the dredgings in Dike 14, making the disposal facility a prime habitat for birds. Ecological restoration could make the site an even better spot for bird watching and passive recreation.