Cleveland celebrates Deer Park grand opening
Photo courtesy of the City of Cleveland.
The City of Cleveland has officially reopened one of its well-known family attractions. On Saturday, Nov. 2, city officials cut the ribbon for the official grand reopening of Cleveland’s updated and renovated Deer Park.
According to the city’s Facebook, the renovations at Deer Park will provide a “backyard theme” and experience for families, children and park-goers. The backyard recreation concept incorporates the natural elements found within the park to create a unique experience.
Improvements to the park include concrete structures, a zip-line, a climbing wall, a carousel, bridges, crawl tubes, sidewalks, spiral slides, swings and a three-story playground tree house for children ages 5 to 12.
“Deer Park is the most utilized park in Cleveland and the last update was in 1999,” Parks and Recreation Director Patti Petitt said. “We wanted to create a backyard experience with the tree house, being able to access the creek safely and just a lot of green space for kids to play.”
This renovation comes alongside ongoing revitalization efforts. City Manager Joe Fivas came to the city in 2016 with the goal of furthering the development of downtown Cleveland.
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative involves improvements to streetscapes, transportation features and parking as well as a downtown greenway extension.
Annika Gino, senior communications major and golf player, said she is excited to have a safe community space to bond with her teammates. “Deer Park has always been a favorite spot for my team and I to bond and get to know each other,” Gino said. “It is a safe area to relax and enjoy the world around us.”
The public experienced live music, food, games and outside activities at the Deer Park celebration event.
Cleveland resident and Lee alumnus Taylor Woodruff enjoyed the grand opening event. “It was enjoyable to see the Cleveland community gather for the reopening of Deer Park,” Woodruff said. “This is a great example of the many family-friendly spots our area has for community members to use and enjoy.”
For more information about Deer Park and future projects regarding the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, contact Parks and Recreation Director Patti Petitt located at Cleveland’s Municipal Building Annex.
