Located adjacent to Big Creek, the former Henninger Landfill was a prime candidate for restoration. After nearly 20 years of disuse, the Land Conservancy seized an opportunity to transform the 25-acre property into a vibrant neighborhood asset while restoring ecological balance to the area. The Lower Big Creek trail and greenway will provide recreational, environmental, social and economic benefits to the surrounding Old Brooklyn neighborhood.
Next door to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on the east side of Pearl Road, the Henninger landfill accepted non-toxic construction waste and debris for decades. The new green space contains scenic views of Big Creek and the Cuyahoga Industrial River Valley, and will connect the neighborhood to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
The property was designated as public greenspace in the Lower Big Creek Greenway Redevelopment and Restoration Plan, the Cuyahoga Greenways Plan, and others as a priority for green space and connectivity. Acquisition of the property established the potential to create an important trail linkage from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo to the Towpath Trail. The City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks, Old Brooklyn Development Corporation, F. Buddie Contractors, Councilman Tony Brancatelli and a number of other project partners have been working on this project since 2006. The Land Conservancy became involved in this project in 2012 at the request of an adjacent property owner. By acquiring the property with Clean Ohio funds in 2014, the Land Conservancy played a critical role in creating the opportunity to transform this property back into productive green space for the community and region.