As promised in the last issue, this month will take you to my favorite place to skate. The Cleveland Metroparks, Emerald Necklace, is a chain of green spaces that literally encircles Cayohoga County, Ohio, from Chardon on the east side to Lakewood on the west. This place is big! Let’s look at the numbers: 19,000 acres; over 100 miles of parkways; 100’s of miles of hiking trails; 82 miles of bridle paths; and what we’re most interested in, over 60 miles of paved all-purpose trails. In addition, the Metroparks operates and maintains 100 picnic areas, dozens of playing fields, 8 physical fitness trails, 5 golf courses, 4 nature centers, a polo field and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - truly something for everyone.

A single fact makes the Metroparks special-it’s diversity. I’ve skated every mile of the all-purpose trails and most of the paved parkways. Weather and the honey-do list permitting, I can usually be found somewhere in the “parks”, most weekends. Each time I skate, I encounter something different. Different types and conditions of skating surfaces, from glass smooth to teeth rattling, pebbly surfaces, from level to literally impossible-to-skate inclines, from crowded trails to solitude, from cityscapes to dense woodlands, which at times include encounters with a wide array of non-domesticated creatures that would normally be viewed within the Metroparks Zoo. The scenery also changes. This part of Ohio has numerous ravines and valleys carved by glaciers, which resulting in dramatic changes in elevation of the terrain throughout the parks. The parks designers incorporated the construction of facilities into the landscape, providing skaters some exciting possibilities.

Let’s start in the northeast areas and travel south and west on most of the all-purpose trails. The North Chagrin district, bordered by S.O.M. Center Rd (Rte 91), Chardon and Chagrin River Rds, contains the Buttermilk Falls Parkway Trail. The 4-mile trail runs south from an entrance at Chardon Rd to Mayfield Village. This relatively flat, but very winding trail has been repaved in the past several years and is mostly very smooth. The trail is narrower than most of the park’s trails and passing is a little tricky especially when you are traveling faster than most trail users. Be cautious of a jagged, wide crack in the middle of the trail that runs almost the entire 4 miles. Two spurs run west to S.O.M. Center Rd, which eventually connect with a paved bike path along S.O.M. Center, south to Mayfield Village and other municipal trails. Be sure to take a few minutes to find the Buttermilk Falls overlook, at the intersection of Ox Lane and Buttermilk Falls Pkwy. This trail is usually more crowded than most park trails, with many skaters. An inline skate rental shop at the Whispering Woods picnic area encourages many first-time skaters.

The next area is South Chagrin. The North and South Chagrin districts aren’t connected by parkways or trails maintained by Metroparks. The surface of the trails in the South Chagrin district varies widely, from newly created trails with glass-smooth asphalt to well-aged, wheel-shredding surfaces. The older trail is 3 1/2 miles long, from Hawthorn Pkwy at the Harper Ridge Picnic area, north to Chagrin River Rd with a loop along Sulphur Springs Dr to Hawthorn Pkwy. The downhill portion of the loop is a very steep incline but still skateable. I literally trashed three wheels on my right skate attempting to maintain a crash-survivable downhill speed on this section. Harper Ridge south, the planned trail has not been constructed, and for a few miles you must share the parkway with vehicles, but the road is relatively smooth. The trail begins again at Aurora Rd, with mirror-smooth asphalt and, except for a very short stretch, continues on to the next district. But, beware, you will encounter this unpaved section about 1 1/2 miles east of Aurora Rd on a very long, downhill stretch. During my first skate on this section, I was unaware of this unfinished part. A few hundred feet before the asphalt ends, you dip into a small valley which blocks your view of the end of the asphalt. At this point, approaching 30 mph, I made a quick decision to attempt a stop, instead of bailing out on the grass. My wife said she had never seen legs and arms move quite that fast in my successful effort to stop.

A left turn on Richmond Rd, in the City of Glenwillow, to the Bedford district will offer more newly constructed all-purpose trails. Across Broadview Ave and under Northfield Rd (Rte 8), up a long, steep hill along Egbert Rd, to the Egbert picnic area. This is a good place to take a quick rest because the next 3 1/2 miles are really tough. You’ll skate on typical park asphalt trails, mostly smooth, with occasional spots of the pebbly surface. Down short, steep hills and back up long, steep hills, again and again. I cannot recommend this part of Bedford to the rec skater. Up one long, last climb and turn left to Overlook Ln. From this point, the trail changes radically to a continuous, slight downhill grade with wide sweeping turns. This is obviously a welcome change from the previous stretch. After catching your breath, you can really build speed and relax for a few minutes. In just over a mile, you will need to make a sharp (at this speed) left turn at Dunham Rd, then a short downhill to the Alexander Rd parking area. The paved trail runs west on Alexander for a few feet to meet a 20-mile, gravel-based trail that connects with the Summit County Metroparks.

If you don’t have your mountain bike with you, it’s into the vehicle and on the road. Go west on Alexander to a left to Riverview Rd, over Royalton Rd to Valley Pkwy, at the east entrance of the Brecksville district. This is the lowest point of the Metroparks in the Cayohoga River valley. Now at the lowest point, guess what is ahead-more hills. Valley Parkway begins with more smooth asphalt through picnic meadows and bridges over a few small streams. Then the hills begin. After several short uphill dashes and quick rests, I finally found the stopper. A stretch that I could not skate and later measured at a 37% grade! From this point, one mile into the Valley Parkway Trail, it’s back in the car and up the hill to the end of the Brecksville area at Brecksville Rd. I strongly advise not to attempt downhill skates in this section. There are several hairpin switchbacks, on very steep inclines, with only a wooden guardrail to stop a tumble into deep, rocky ravines - ouch!

For the speed skater, the next 8 miles is probably the best place to practice. The Valley Pkwy connects the Brecksville district to the Mill Stream district with a gently rolling, relatively smooth 2-lane parkway. You must share the road with vehicles, the posted parks speed limit is 30mph and is patrolled regularly, which discourages speeders. The parkway yields to all crossroads, requiring full stops. The first 5 miles are uphill with occasional quick downhills allowing short rests. The last 3 miles, starting at Ridge Rd, are mostly downhill and really fun; I’ve actually passed vehicles.

At West 130 St the all-purpose trail begins again at the east entrance to the Mill Stream district. This section of the Valley Pkwy Trail runs 4 miles northwest to Pearl Rd in Berea. The asphalt is very rough and pebbly and will literally rattle your helmet. This portion is flat with many quick turns, in open fields and dense forests. Two things to watch for, the flocks of geese (and their aftermath on the trail) that frequent the many wetland preserves, and the 4-year-olds on mauve and chartreuse Barbie bikes that want to always steer straight into you, if it were not for the last-second shouts from frantic parents. Avoid the geese and apologize to the parents for scaring their kids. A skate rental and snack shop at the Bonnie Park picnic area attracts many skaters. A soon-to-be-completed 40’ x 60’ asphalt pad, adjacent to the skate rental will offer beginning skaters a chance to practice before venturing onto the trails. Skating lessons are also available by appointment.

Back onto the trail, and west over Pearl Rd to the start of the Rocky River (south) area. This 4 1/2-mile portion of the Valley Pkwy Trail begins with about 1 1/2 miles of newly resurfaced, super-smooth asphalt that is ideal for the rec skater and the speed skater, with gently rolling terrain and only a few curves that might slow you down. The smooth asphalt ends at the South Baldwin picnic area, and here you’ll encounter some of the roughest trail in the entire parks for the next three miles to Bagley Rd. This part of the trail is lined with large, old trees and the roots have heaved the asphalt into hundreds of large bumps that require constant navigation.

About a quarter of a mile west of Pearl Rd is the south entrance to the Big Creek district spur. In the first part of this report, I described the diverse conditions of Cleveland Metroparks. The Big Creek Trail is different. It starts out looking very similar to other park trails, up a very steep hill, with less-than-smooth asphalt, through dense forests. At the top of this 1/4-mile hill at Whitney Rd, the park surroundings are, as some would see it, a welcome change. The trail becomes an inter-urban cityscape, with the smooth asphalt trail in the middle of a mostly divided parkway. From Whitney the trail meanders through three cities for 7 1/2 miles to Brookpark Rd. Other than one park setting at the Lake Isaac Waterfowl Sanctuary, just north of Whitney Rd, you’ll see only beautifully manicured lawns and quiet neighborhoods. With the cityscape comes many cross streets which require full stops, some at major highways with traffic signals. If you want to avoid the beginning hill, you could park along almost any street, and there are three picnic areas along the trail with adequate parking.

Bagley Rd is the start of the Rocky River (north) district. This is the last, long trail of the system and my personal favorite. The 13-mile trail traverses north from Bagley to the City of Lakewood and ends at the Scenic Park Marina, at Detroit Rd, only a short distance from Lake Erie. I chose this part of the park as my favorite, not for any single reason, but rather it contains all of the previously described scenery and trail conditions. A round-trip on this portion will provide any skater a fun time. A little excitement and challenge of the many hills long, flat smooth areas for pure speed, bridges to span, river fords to cross (usually not after a rain storm), and the pure beauty of the Cleveland Metroparks.

Note from Tim Houk:
Congratulations to the FaSST staff on publishing the 10th Anniversary issue. The improvements from the old SST newspaper format, to the magazine format to the current state of FaSST have been fantastic.
This “Best of” issue gives readers a chance to look back on all of the great things FaSST has accomplished for the sport of skating. In many instances, FaSST has dragged factions of the sport out of infancy and disorganization and led the way to step-level improvements to what our sport is today. The issues raised in the FaSST editorials have been instrumental in focusing attention on other aspects of the sport that need improvement. Many of the ideas presented by FaSST have become reality and have pushed the sport to even greater heights. Lauri and Jeff and the staff have always raised the bar and are never satisfied with status quo - and that’s the only way it should be!
On a personal note, some form of the Inline Sojourn has appeared in 31 issues of FaSST. I’m proud of that fact. Not only proud that I’m the longest running FaSST contributor, but perhaps in some small way have also contributed to the sport. The Inline Sojourn is a labor of love only because I love to skate - plain and simple.
The FaSST staff allowed me to pick my “Best of” Inline Sojourn. Regular FaSST readers know I've skated in hundreds of locations, scores of states and dozens of foreign countries. So why did I pick my own backyard, The Emerald Necklace, FaSST, Oct, 1996, as my best place to skate? Someone recently asked me, “Why would I want to come to Ohio to skate?” Yea, there are places to skate where the pavement is smoother, the paths are longer, the hills are steeper, the scenery is more dramatic, the climate is better, etc., etc. However, I have yet to find a place that generally has ALL the elements I’m looking for in a skating venue and this “jewel” does. And the Cleveland Metro Parks are only a few miles from my home. So you ask, why does this guy travel all over the world looking for a better place to skate - plain and simple - I love to skate!