In 2014, the City of Mentor purchased what was to become Springbrook Gardens Park from the Schultz Family who had owned it for over a century to grow their nursery stock. The 53-acre site was formally dedicated in April 2019 for Mentor residents to enjoy as greenspace in perpetuity.
The property was flat and sandy. Perfect for a nursery but not so much for a park, so a landscaping plan was developed and work began to transform it into what you see today.
That work included the creation of strategic moundings and plantings, over 1.7 miles of walking trails, an expanded pond with a boardwalk, and most recently, the enhancement of the streambed which restored about 3 acres of wetlands to help manage storm runoff and create a lush wildlife habitat.
The project was made possible due to $264,000 in funding from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 grant program along with a $176,000 match from the City.
And that funding that was put to good use through the amazing contribution from our partners at Lake County Soil and Water, Chagrin River Watershed Partners, and Biohabitats, Inc.
The difference really is amazing, and this is just the beginning. When the park opened, we knew it was going to be a work in progress…but that progress is already evident. So come out an enjoy Springbrook Gardens Park and watch it change and improve over time.
