Logs get Legacy Point Park one step closer to opening
These logs located at Legacy Point Park will soon become the centerpieces of the fencing that will guide people up the Stairway to Heaven path to the observation area atop the park's highest elevation. Because no digging can be done at the former landfill due to the lining, the Holmes County Park District has had to get creative with its fencing ideas.
There have been many stages in the ongoing effort to revitalize the former Holmes County Landfill and turn it into the 24.9 acres of Legacy Point Park, and on Monday, April 28, Holmes County Park District Executive Director Jen Halverson met with the Holmes County Commissioners to discuss work with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, having the commissioners assuming a larger role in the process and the building of the fenced-in area that will lead people up the Stairway to Heaven to the observation area high atop the park’s tallest peak.
The main discussion centered around the addition of a large pile of logs that were brought in that will eventually serve as the centerpiece of the fence area that is being designed to direct people toward the top of the hill to the observation area.
According to Halverson, the idea is to cut the logs into 3-foot sections and space them out up the path, which has been dubbed Stairway to Heaven, with a rope connecting each log.
Because there is a lining placed under the ground on top of the landfill, there can be no permanent structures placed on the hill that would require any type of digging into the ground.
Halverson said the board discussed several options and felt this would be the easiest, most attractive and least disturbing to the ground possible.
“We want the public to be able to appreciate that view at the top,” Halverson said. “We talked about nonground-penetrating barriers or fences for that pathway and the observation area. We talked about a lot of options that would look nice, look natural, be cost effective and last a long time.”
Commissioner Joe Miller expressed some concern about bringing in any type of heavy equipment to work on the grounds because of the liner situation. He also said because the county is the entity at risk should anything puncture the liner, the commissioner board needs to be more involved in the planning of these types of decisions moving forward.
Miller was concerned the park district board moved forward on the proposition for the fence without consulting the commissioners.
“We need to have some communication,” Miller said. “You’ve done some really nice things there, but if we get holes in that cap, we’ve got real problems.”
Because of that concern, Commissioner Dave Hall made a recommendation that from here on out the park district and commissioner’s office need to work together, with the commissioner’s board having the final say on all decisions.
“Because of our responsibility as a county board of commissioners, if there is a lawsuit, the buck stops (with the commissioners),” Hall said. “I think the park district can make recommendations, but everything needs to go through (Kevin Miller, buildings and grounds supervisor for the county), and the commissioner’s board, that we can sign off on these things. That gives us clarity. It protects (the park district) and the board of commissioners.”
Halverson said she had no problem with that being the case, stating whatever is best for the county is best for everyone.
“We should have probably set those rules beforehand,” Joe Miller said.
Halverson said she would contact Kevin Miller to let him know when Eco-Seal is ready to move forward with the project so he can be on hand.
The reasoning behind the placement of a pathway to the observation area is to encourage the public to remain within a certain area rather than walking up the hill anywhere they’d like.
Halverson said one of the main reasons is to help preserve the birds nesting throughout the area.
“The EPA doesn’t want (people) inadvertently running through there and impacting the wildlife we are protecting,” Halverson said.
The park district has hired Eco-Seal to have professional employees come in and cut and place the logs using skid steers.
Once the fencing is in place, the county has the option to add things like benches, a gazebo or pergola, and other furniture that will beautify the park while serving a purpose with the public.
“This is the last step in the process, and I know (the commissioners) are very passionate about what will eventually go in up there,” Halverson said. “I think once we have this open, we can see how the public uses that space and what makes sense to put up there.”
Signage will eventually be placed along both Shale Pack Path, which goes around the hill, and Stairway to Heaven, which leads directly to the top of the hill, to direct the public along the paths.