Chippewa Lake Wetland Restoration

Project Description

Once a popular amusement park that operated from the late 1800s into the 1970s, the 95-acre Chippewa Lake Park sat abandoned along the shores of Ohio’s largest inland glacial lake until it was purchased by the Medina County Park District (MCPD). After developing a master plan for the site, MCPD received funding from the State’s H2Ohio program to restore its ecological function and habitat quality, and to remove dilapidated park infrastructure.

As part of the integrated design-build team, Biohabitats designed, procured permitting for, and supervised construction of the restoration of approximately 15 acres of wetlands and 860 lf of stream. Challenges included designing to future hydrologic improvements along a county road (which included culvert replacement and stream daylighting) and changes to roadway drainage patterns that occurred after the project was awarded.

The project team began with data collection and a field assessment which included a wetland delineation, stream assessment, topographic survey, cultural resource investigation, and a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis. Biohabitats then developed and helped implement restoration plans that incorporated a defunct Ferris wheel frame, created ecologically beneficial wetland areas, addressed flooding concerns, and improved the shoreline.

Biohabitats led and supervised all aspects of project construction, which included demolishing and removing the debris from 25 neglected structures, 1,500 lf of damaged fencing, and 50,000 sf of pavement. After construction, the project team provided site monitoring and invasive species management.