Horseshoe Lake was first targeted by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. They are now targeting Lower Lake, which shares a boundary with Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights, just like Horseshoe Lake. The 787-person regional bureaucracy known as NEORSD seems to be anti-invasive species, anti-lake, and anti-dam.
Except for Native Americans, aren’t we all invading species?
The sewer folks want to demolish Horseshoe Lake and Lower Lake in order to use the historic Shaker Lakes parkland. According to NEORSD, the sewage district and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources must stop flooding in University Circle downstream, which is why the Heights lakes must be gutted.
According to the sewer district, lives are at risk in the Circle. However, no one has passed away in over a century. Talk about going overboard with nanny-state.
The central park in the Heights is Shaker Lakes. The Heights’ lungs are the lakes. East Siders visit the lakes to breathe deeply, observe the serene water, and possibly spot a heron.
Herons have nothing to do with the sewer district. It has to do with sewers. NEORSD has millions of dollars (from the monthly sewer fees of the entire area) and obviously dislikes having ordinary people tell them what to do.
The Friends of Horseshoe Lake was founded by myself. We invested thousands of dollars and engaged an engineering firm that indicated Horseshoe Lake may be protected after the group gathered petitions with thousands of signatures. However, the sewer folks refused.
According to the sewer district, Lower Lake would be spared if Horseshoe Lake was removed. The district then changed its mind last month and declared that Lower Lake must also be eliminated.
Residents of Heights became aware of the district’s dishonesty. Recent council sessions in Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights have had dozens of pro-lake speakers and protestors on the sidewalk. Additionally, additional protests are likely to occur in the future.
The Cleveland Heights Main Library on Lee Road will host the sewer district’s most recent power point on Wednesday, August 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will undoubtedly be a lot of big numbers mentioned. The expenses are rising.
But what exactly is the point of taking a stroll around the lakes with your dog, your child, your grandchild, or yourself? A resident informed the Shaker Heights council at the most recent meeting that the cost of that lake walk exceeds $1 billion! More than rubies. Think about taking a woodland bath, observing birds, listening to ducks quack, meditating, and forming relationships with others while strolling around the lakes. That’s what community is. Priceless.
And think about this: Water sells, therefore developers occasionally include fountains resembling Fontainebleau in their lakes in new house estates. Everyone want a lake of their own. On occasion, I have seen East Coast snobs who claim they can not tolerate the Midwest and must live close to water, such as the ocean. One thing these East Coasters are correct about is that everyone enjoys water. A private-access view of a body of water is also out of reach for certain people. There’s a reason why Winton Place in Lakewood and Bratenahl Place on the East Side are pricey.
The Shaker Lakes must be protected for future generations by Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights. They won’t return once the lakes are gone. If necessary, the Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights governments should issue municipal bonds to fund the lakes. The trustees and CEO of the sewer district should go. They might lose their jobs.
The sewage district suggests creating winding streams with rip-rap stones as banks in place of Horseshoe Lake and Lower Lake. Additionally, we might gain playground amenities, which would require funding from the suburbs.
There are many playgrounds and waterways close by. Our lakes are what we desire. The residents of the Heights are furious because they are losing water.
Living in Cleveland Heights, Bert Stratton has written for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Plain Dealer. Klezmer Guy: Real Music & Real Estate is the blog he publishes.
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