Updates on progress at Dike 14

June 2005

Dike 14 Sneak a Peak Day Dozens of curiosity seekers, birders and nature enthusiasts recently were treated to a hike on Dike 14, an 88-acre former dump site for Cuyahoga River dredgings that has transformed into a lush landscape and important bird sanctuary. The hikes were led by naturalists and members of the Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative, a group working to gather support for a nature preserve at the currently closed dike, which is located at the northern end of MLK Drive in Cleveland.

March 2004
Dike 14 is an 88-acre wedge of land jutting into Lake Erie at the foot of MLK Boulevard that was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers as a disposal facility for dredge
spoils from the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor. It is an important piece of the Campbell Administration's Lakefront Plan as well as EcoCity Cleveland's BLUE Project, both of which identify Dike 14 as a future park.

In 2002, a nature preserve concept plan was developed by the citizens' Dike 14 Committee, which recommends conservation of migratory bird habitat and the creation of passive recreation such as wetlands, nature trails and scenic overlooks.

But, in November 2003 the committee circulated a memo urging citizens to write letters to Mayor Campbell after a suggestion surfaced that the Port Authority is seeking permission to reopen Dike 14 for dredge disposal. The state owns the filled and submerged land at and around Dike 14, which the Port Authority has leased until 2016. The Port needs permission from the state to decide any future use of Dike 14.

In January 2004, The Dike 14 Committee suggested that the city, which holds the majority of seats on the Port Authority board, and the state are "backing out" of Dike 14. They have not applied for free assistance available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate the remediation possibilities of the site, the committee wrote.

The city did, however, show a commitment to Gordon Park and Dike 14 as a park by applying in December, 2003 for a grant from the Ohio Coastal Management fund for a risk assessment and a preliminary study for public access to Dike 14. EcoCity Cleveland signed a letter of support for the city's grant application.

In February 2004, city planning provided a letter written by Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell which reaffirms the city's committment to making Dike 14 one of the two parks in the Lakefront Plan. The letter requests that the Army Corp. of Engineers consider alternative options for the disposal of river and harbor dredge. Click here to read the letter (pdf file).

While the debate continues over whether or not to reopen Dike 14 and remove reestablished habitat for the purpose of soil remediation, or to clean enough land for a single loop trail, EcoCity supports the creation of a policy from the city that sets a goal for a park at Dike 14.

for more information. To learn more about The Dike 14 Committee, call Barbara A. Martin, Acting Chair at 440-243-3353 or 440-243-9070. Click to read a copy of the Dike 14 Committee letter to Mayor Campbell (pdf 29KB).

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EcoCity Cleveland
3500 Lorain Avenue, Suite 301, Cleveland OH 44113
Cuyahoga Bioregion
(216) 961-5020
www.ecocitycleveland.org
Copyright 2002-2005

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