Trustees pass resolution of support for conservation group

by Dan Holland

Sept. 3 township trustees meeting

Richfield Township trustees passed a resolution supporting Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s application efforts to secure Clean Ohio Fund Green Space Conservation Funding to purchase a conservation easement and permanently protect the Rocky River Forest Preserve property – also known as Camp Bradlo – in Richfield Township.

Located west of Medina Line Road along the East Branch of Rocky River, the 90-acre Camp Bradlo was originally purchased in 1931 by a group of 30 Slovak immigrant families – including the grandparents of Ohio Representative Bill Roemer (R- Richfield) – who collectively purchased the land to be used as a weekend retreat.

“I’m not here speaking in my official capacity, but I’m speaking as part of one of the families who has owned Camp Bradlo for 95 years,” said Roemer during the meeting. “The property has never been timbered; it has the East Branch of Rocky River running through it, several streams, a Class 3 wetland and it is home to at least six species of bats. We want to protect it in perpetuity, as we don’t want it developed.”

Trustee Chair Don Laubacher noted that the property is zoned as a conservation easement.

Andy McDowell, vice president of the land conservancy’s Western Field Operations, addressed the trustees.

“We’re looking to apply to the Clean Ohio preservation fund to get a grant to purchase a conservation easement on the campground,” said McDowell. “A conservation easement puts a permanent restriction on the property, limiting development, and it places other restrictions on it.”

“In a handful of cases, the properties are usually similar to Camp Bradlo, with it often being a Boy Scout camp, 4-H camp or some other use camp where they have a 501(c)(3) status,” said McDowell. “It has all the bells and whistles we look for; East Branch of Rocky River, headwater streams and dwellings. It’s sandwiched on the north and south by Cleveland Metroparks, and on its west side is a conservation easement that we’ve held for many years. So, it’s in a perfect spot for it.”

McDowell said a resolution of support from the township is a necessary step in applying for the grant. He noted that a decision on whether the grant has been awarded should be known in early November.

Roemer told The Richfield Times that a dozen cottages, built in the early 1950s, are located on the property.

“We have picnic grounds there, and we had picnics up until the 1980s; if a church or fraternal organization wanted to hold a picnic,” said Roemer. “But now, it’s just nice to go there and walk around and see the huge trees, the East Branch of Rocky River and just commune with nature. We want to protect the property in perpetuity so that future generations will be able to enjoy it.”

Announcements

Laubacher noted that a 250th Liberty Tree – a Princeton elm – will be planted on the grounds of the township administrative and service department building at 6 p.m., just prior to the Oct. 1 trustees meeting, in honor of the nation’s Semiquincentennial.

In other business, trustees approved:

  • Payment of $49,979 to Melway Paving for the 2026 paving program.
  • An agreement with Summit County to accept $1,480 as a 2026 payment in lieu of taxes for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park land within Richfield Township.
  • The amounts and tax rates as determined by the Budget Commission and authorization of the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the Summit County Fiscal Officer.
  • Establishing regulations for transient vendor solicitations and the procedures for obtaining a transient vendor solicitation permit.
  • The preparation and submission of an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement program(s) and executing contracts as required.
  • Advancing local funds.
  • Purchase orders as presented.