CLEVELAND — *Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous, unrelated report.
A portion of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is now closed out of concern for public safety.
On Thursday the organization announced that the Brandywine Falls parking lot and the upper section of the Brandywine Gorge Trail will be closed due to multiple construction projects.
The ongoing projects will keep the area closed through September 30.
The closure includes a section of the Summit Metro Parks Bike & Hike Trail, making the waterfall inaccessible from that trail.
“Because we know that this is a popular place to experience in CVNP, we made a good faith effort to keep the area open during a major construction project.” said Superintendent Lisa Petit. “As the work progresses, we have been closely monitoring potential hazards in the area and we have found that the parking lot is no longer safe for vehicles and pedestrians. Closing it is the only option at this time, and we will reopen it as soon as conditions allow safe access for the public.”
The boardwalk, falls viewing area, and lower section of the gorge trail will remain open. Visitors may park at Boston Mill Visitor Center and take the Stanford Trail (approximately 5 miles round trip) to access the falls. Parking in the Boston area typically fills between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., especially on weekends.
According to a press release announcing the closure, park staff will regularly assess conditions and reopen sections if it is safe to do so. Officials are requesting that visitors, "please respect all closures, and do not attempt to park along the road or turn around in private driveways."
At the start of the year, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park began a major project to improve amenities including the construction of a brand new restroom with running water and its own wastewater treatment system. It is reported that contractors are making progress and are on schedule to complete the project by the end of September.
For more information and updates, click here.
*Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.