PENINSULA, Ohio — The National Park Service has announced they closed on purchasing 198 acres of the former Brandywine Golf Course property on Dec. 28, 2022, from the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
“We are delighted that the transfer of the former Brandywine Golf Course property to the National Park Service is now complete, officially adding this beautiful acreage to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for the benefit and enjoyment of our visitors and our communities now and into the future,” said Lisa Petit, Superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. “We are especially grateful to our partner, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, for their tireless efforts to protect and remediate this property for the American public.”
According to the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 15 acres of the west side of the former golf course are being kept for programming, special events, and other riverfront initiatives.
"Since 2019, the Conservancy Board and staff have worked diligently to save this property in the heart of our national park to protect habitat, as well as create a space for all to enjoy the land and the Cuyahoga River," said officials in an announcement email from the Conservancy. "The Conservancy is deeply grateful for the individual donors and private foundations that invested in this legacy project to preserve as well as protect this land for future generations to explore, discover and cherish."
Remediation changes are expected to begin in 2023. CVNP will be overseeing the project as well as HZW Environmental Consultants of Mentor. The project phase is funded by a grant award from the Ohio Department of Development, During the current work phase, the property will remain closed to the public due to safety reasons.
“Since 2019, the Conservancy worked diligently to save this property in the heart of our park to protect habitat as well as create a space for all to enjoy the land and Cuyahoga River,” said Deb Yandala, president and CEO, of Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. “We are grateful to the community, especially the individuals and foundations who stepped up to join us in our efforts to preserve this land for the National Park Service.”
In 2021, when the Conservancy purchased Brandywine Golf Course for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, many residents were upset by the decision.
"We were hoping for a better resolution, maybe even sharing the property with the conservancy and the park," Mayor of Penisula Dan Schneider told 3News in Oct. 2021.
Updates on the project will be posted HERE.