BOARDMAN The Forest Lawn Stormwater Park officially opens its first phase on Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the completion of an initiative designed to address long-standing flooding and stream erosion in the Boardman Township area.

The ABC Water and Stormwater District, in partnership with Boardman Township, is hosting the 10:30 a.m. ceremony at the park's location, 5555 Market St., the former site of Market Street Elementary School. The event is scheduled to include local officials and district representatives.

The park is the result of a multi-year project to mitigate flooding that has affected hundreds of homes in neighborhoods along the Cranberry Run watershed. Boardman Township Trustee Tom Costello noted in June that since the stormwater retention area was implemented, the township had not received a single flooding complaint in that area.

The primary function of the 9.5-acre park is flood management, utilizing a stormwater retention area capable of holding an estimated 4 million gallons of water during heavy rain. The project involved removing the former school building, which closed in 2019, and converting the parcel into a flood retention area.

ABC Water and Stormwater District Executive Director Jason Loree previously described the location as unique because a stream, Cranberry Run, was piped in underground with two 60-inch pipes. The project involved 'daylighting' the stream, or bringing it back to the surface, to allow for stormwater detention and to restore it to more natural conditions. This process, according to Loree, added significant capacity for water management and created a public asset.

The project began years ago with the ABC District and the United States Army Corps of Engineers working to identify problem areas in the watershed. The project's final plans were revealed in September 2021, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency approved the final permit for the demolition and site conversion in October 2022. Construction work on the site began in the summer of 2024.

 

 

 

Beyond its flood control capabilities, the stormwater park features other components. It preserves green space, is intended to improve water quality, and creates a nature habitat that includes meadows, pollinator fields, and reforestation of the site. The park also provides a new recreational area for residents.

The ribbon cutting on Wednesday also marked the public opening of the park’s paved, lighted walking track, which is 10 feet wide and spans about one-third of a mile.

The $3 million funding was secured through the ABC Water and Stormwater District with support from Boardman Township and included $500,000 from the state capital budget and the remainder from a 20-year low-interest loan through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund.