Revenue grows for Metroparks golf course and zoo

The scene at Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners meeting

The Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners meeting began promptly at 8 a.m., followed by a roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion was moved and seconded to approve the minutes for the March 19 meeting. 

Financial report

Metroparks’ Gary Butzback gave the presentation. 

• Property tax revenue in January and February was down 50% compared to 2025 revenue, but that improved during March. Local government grants and gifts are up year over year as well. 
• A significant amount of funds is going towards construction expenses. Despite weather challenges, zoo attendance has risen 17% year to year. The new primate forest accounted for the majority of the zoo’s March construction expenses of $2.5 million. 
• Golf revenue is up 17% in terms of rounds year over year. The Ironwood Golf Course received a new fleet of carts to replace the old ones. 
• The Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center is getting ready for dining on the lakefront as construction continues. 
• The Enterprise division has taken over North Coast Harbor. 
• The Hinckley Lake dam is complete, and the boathouse and the spillway will be back up and running. 

Board Vice President Dan Moore asked if the Metroparks had to pay Cleveland to take over the Inner Harbor downtown. Board Vice President Yvette Ittu asked if there was a contract in place. Chief Executive Officer Brian Zimmerman explained that Metroparks does not have to pay the city to take over the harbor and there was an amendment to the lease. 

Renae Truelson and Peter Wildenhaus were recognized for their years of exemplary service as they retire. Truelson thanked Cleveland Metroparks for the opportunity to work for the organization. She expressed enthusiasm for retirement. Wildenhaus could not be there in person. 

New Business/CEO’s report 

Zimmerman went through the items on the agenda:

• 2026 Budget Adjustment No. 3. This would increase the budget by $17,766,624. This was approved. 
• Winter 2026/2027 Road Salt Solution. This was to purchase salt for the upcoming winter through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) winter salt program. This would allow ODOT to handle the bidding for road salt to lower the cost per ton of salt compared to if Cleveland Metroparks did the bidding. This was approved. 
• Adoption of Revised Policy – Trademark, Copyright and Logo Usage. This was approved to allow Cleveland Metroparks to establish other intellectual properties and update the policy, which you can find at this point in the agenda. 
• For services for deck protection at the Rocky River Nature Center and Change Orders to be passed for the coastal shoreline erosion project. This was approved. 
• There was authorization of an award for Bid #7028 for portable toilet rentals. Also, there was an authorization of an award for  request for proposal #7019 for employee health care benefits consulting services. These were all approved. 

Public comments 

Marty Lesher, an Olmsted Township resident, expressed disapproval for the Metroparks for including alcohol and gambling in their spaces, namely pursuing liquor licenses for the Hinckley Boathouse. Lesher expressed frustration that there were no public discussions about this.

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Lesher also remarked on the “abrupt” departure of the previous CFO, Wade Steen, and expressed the desire for more transparency. 

• Moore remarked that alcohol has been served at the park for quite a while. 
• Board President Bruce Rinker also remarked that the park pays very close attention to the finances so that they rely on taxpayer dollars less. Rinker said they will not “satisfy everybody” but said they have increased ways to serve the broader public in ethical ways. 

Natural Resources Update/2025 Project update

The director of Natural Resources, Jennifer Grieser, started off the presentation by acknowledging her team. 

She talked about the Metroparks’ efforts in legacy tree preservation; how her team is treating forest pests and pathogens; propagating trees; and working to combat invasive plants/species: 

• North Chagrin Reservation has received work to combat invasive plants, ditch disruption.
• Wendy Park is having native plants planted and a new understory shrub layer.
• Hinckley Reservation has a new pollinator meadow. The acreage has been seeded and shrubs planted. There have been about eight acres of white pine removal. 
• South Chagrin Reservation has seen methods to battle thistle and other invasive species. Over 13 acres have been seeded. 
• The Acacia Reservation has inherited a small hoop house with a new fence. This lets them overwinter plants. 
• After the nature-based shoreline project for Wendy Park in 2024, Grieser has been looking at slope stabilization and other floating wetland opportunities. She remarked that East 55th Street Marina could present an opportunity to soften the shoreline.
• Last year was the first season of fishing at Garfield Pond. There have been 17,351 pounds of fish stocked across 11 public fishing areas. 
• Moore asked about the financial cost of reintroducing sturgeon to the Cuyahoga River. Grieser didn’t provide an amount, but said it was a joint venture with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife agency.
• There was a controlled fire burn of just under six acres at the Hinckley and Brecksville Reservations to allow new plant growth. 
• 5,134 non-native mantid egg casings have been removed. 
• Grieser said her team is working with the American Chestnut Foundation on pollinating the few chestnut trees on Metroparks land because they’re too far apart to pollinate each other. 

Zoo destination hotel

The Metroparks’ chief planning and design officer, Sean McDermott, gave a presentation about the possibility of a themed hotel for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. In 2019, there was a feasibility study to gauge public interest. McDermott said this is an opportunity to fill the hotel gap from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to downtown Cleveland. 

The hotel would include approximately 135 rooms. 

McDermott said four potential sites have been scouted for development of the hotel. McDermott’s team would be looking for a partner to help develop the hotel, as the Metroparks themselves would not operate it. Metroparks is currently hearing bids, and May 29 is the deadline for the proposals. 

The board then went into executive session at 8:44 a.m. The meeting concluded after the executive session. 

These notes are by Documenter Liam Stilson. Audio recorded by Documenter Diana Sette.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org  with “Correction Request” in the subject line.