Rating the Suburbs 2012: For the Nature Lover

Willoughby

At first glance, Willoughby may not seem like a haven for hikers, bird-watchers and nature lovers. While the bustling community of more than 22,000 has seen plenty of business and residential growth in recent years, the new 172-acre Gulley Brook Park has a decidedly noncommercial flavor.

Dedicated last August, the park preserves and protects valleys, streams, wetlands and forest areas that were once inhabited by Native Americans.

Through the efforts of a determined group of naturalists, headed by city residents Joe Bole, Joe Pedone, Dale Cook and Gretta Pallister, the Willoughby Area Conservancy began what would prove to be an 8-year quest culminating in Gulley Brook, now an official member of the Lake Metroparks. The project also got a boost from U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette, who helped obtain state and federal funding.

"They were all nature lovers," says Sue Bole, 75, whose husband died before he could see his vision realized. "They knew this park was important, because it was really the last unspoiled stretch of land in the area."

The tributaries and ravines of Gulley Brook drew the attention of Northeast Ohio naturalists as far back as 1915. Today, the park is less than a 10-minute drive from downtown's historic Erie Street, a hub of local restaurants and shops. The land, which now makes up the new park, was once considered for a high-rise apartment complex.

Gulley Brook, bordered by Interstate 90 and routes 84 and 174, may be just minutes from the thriving stores and restaurants of downtown Willoughby, but its scenic and winding trails are a welcome respite to the daily grind.

"It's a little jewel with beautiful land and wildlife," says Bole. "It's a place to go and see what Willoughby was like before it became a bigger city."

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GOOD NEIGHBOR: Most of the homes in Willowick were built between the '50s and '70s. But Shoreland Crossings and Larimar, two upscale lakefront housing developments, have popped up along Lakeshore Boulevard in the last three years. With a total of 263 new units, the city expects to draw new residents and provide current residents with bigger, more expensive options. "It gives our residents the opportunity to move up without moving out," says Mayor Richard Bonde. But don't expect it to change the character of the town. Every year, Bonde challenges the city's fifth-graders to participate in community outreach, like this year's Valentine's Day donation of food baskets to families in need.

LIKE-MINDED CITY: This Portage County locale is making a name for itself in regards to wildlife and nature preservation. Streetsboro recently added 287 acres of parkland, including a 55-acre expansion east of the Gott Fen State Nature Preserve. "We're going to do whatever we can in the least invasive way possible on the environment, but still make it so our citizens can have some places to go," says Mayor Glenn Broska. The overall goal is to provide outdoor recreational areas and activities while continuing to preserve the surrounding plant and animal life.