Ohio lawmakers secure $4 million for Cuyahoga Valley National Park

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, and U.S. Reps. Steve LaTourette, Tim Ryan and Betty Sutton, have secured $4 million for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to begin acquiring 635 acres of undeveloped land.

This project will significantly enhance the CVNP by permanently incorporating into the park the largest remaining private parcel of land within its boundary.

Currently, the Musical Arts Association owns this land and oversees the operation of Blossom Music Center, a vital and exceedingly popular outdoor performing arts destination in Northeast Ohio.

The land is contiguous with adjoining park land.

Funding for this purchase was secured from the conference agreement on H.R. 2996, the FY2010 Interior Appropriations Act.

The Interior Appropriations Act will now go to the President to be signed into law.

The bill makes improving our national parks a key priority, providing $2.7 billion for the national parks.

This funding continues the 10-year initiative to upgrade the national parks before the Centennial of the National Park Service in 2016.

"Cuyahoga Valley National Park is Ohio's only national park and one of my favorite places to visit with my family," Voinovich said. "The park offers residents and visitors to Northeast Ohio an incredible natural habitat to enjoy filled with lush greenery, beautiful waterscapes and majestic land formations. As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, I was proud to support funding for the acquisition of the lands surrounding the Blossom Music Center. These funds will bolster the park's efforts to maintain its beautiful natural habitat and its history."

Brown said, "Blossom Music Center is cherished by so many Ohioans and is an important driver of economic development. These funds will help preserve the land surrounding Blossom. The addition of this land will further the Cuyahoga Valley National Park's status as a premier site for conservation."

"I was pleased to continue the legacy of Congressman Ralph Regula in helping this local and national treasure," LaTourette said. "My House and Senate colleagues worked well together for the betterment of the region, and this land acquisition will protect the property from private development, and also help the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra."

"This funding is critical to preserve Cuyahoga Valley National Park and ensure that the people of Northeast Ohio will be able to enjoy Ohio's only National Park for generations to come," Rep. Sutton said. "I am proud that our efforts built upon the tireless efforts of Congressman Ralph Regula to preserve and enhance the park."

"As Ohio's only National Park, located in Northeast Ohio, I am honored to have worked with my colleagues to secure this project," Rep. Ryan said. "This project is another jewel in crown that is our Park. This addition will help preserve our heritage for generations to come."

"We could not be more grateful for this remarkable victory by the Ohio delegation," said Bill Carroll, Ohio State Director of the nonprofit The Trust for Public Land, which is assisting in the protection effort. "Working together, they brought back to Blossom one of the bill's largest conservation appropriations in the entire country, clearing the way for protection of this special part of one of America's most visited national parks."

Located between Cleveland and Akron, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park attracts more than 2.5 million visitors per year, and more than 2.8 million in 2008.

The park conserves the Cuyahoga River valley and the parallel historic canal and railroad corridors in Summit and Cuyahoga counties.

As the sixth most-visited national park in the country, the conserved forests, farmlands and wetlands offer visitors nearly 33,000 acres of local, state and federal land for recreation, outdoor enjoyment and the opportunity to view wildlife and several waterfalls in a natural setting, all within easy access of two major metropolitan areas.