What we've accomplished so far.............

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current projects

• Restoration of Kirby's Mill
• Stabilization of Amity House
• Stabilization of North House
• Stabilization of Kirby House
• Trash, Latrines & Cleaning crew weekly rounds 
• Invasive plant management
• Guided hikes and other programs for the public
• Annual Primitive Potluck for members
• Promotion of Richfield Heritage Preserve / Camp Crowell Hilaka Historic District on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, & Website
• Merchandise development and sales

2022 

• Clean up of collapsed porch roof on Garfield Hall; installation of ice shield on remaining structure

2021

• Contracted with B. E. Hassett & Co., Millwrights to restore the water wheel on Kirby’s Mill.  The old wheel was disassembled and taken to Kentucky for reconstruction.
• Contracted with Northstar for concrete repairs on the wheel pit, which evolved into full replacement of the pit and wheel support piers---and worked with structural engineer Phil Reed on plans for the expanded scope of work required.
•  North House stabilization: rain water swale created, porch steps masonry repaired, damaged interior wall remediated.
•  “One is Good, Two is Better” matching funds campaign for the restoration of Kirby’s Mill raised $50,000.00.  
• Friends photographer Rob Kazar, in collaboration with Blind 7 Photography,  produced the fundraising video, “Two Photographers, One Vision for Kirby’s Mill”
•  Wildflower Walk; virtual version, plus in-person with Jennifer Windus
• Birding hike with Fred Dinkelbach
• History hike with Lynn Richardson
• Archaeology hike with Dr. Phil Wanyerka
• Architecture hike with Corey Ringle
• Kirby Day featuring Michael Cohill of the American Toy Marble Museum and a one-day-only magical fairy garden
• Friday Fundays -- combination of online and in-person summer activities
• Self-guided history hike brochures for park visitors
• Trails and Trivia self-guided hikes in December
• Sponsorships for decorating donated blue spruce trees for Winter Wonders
• Three Winter Wonders mini events
• Assisted RJRD with the Kirby Centennial Celebration and Treats on the Trail
• Participated in the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation consultation regarding park trails, maps, and way-finding signage
• Hosted a quarterly meeting of the Northeastern Ohio Inter-Museum Council
• Richfield Library window display
  
  

2020 - adapting to the pandemic; conversion of projects to online format, or outdoors with attendance limitations 

• Finalization of Mill restoration construction drawings; approval granted by RJRD and The Ohio History Fund
• Contracted with structural engineer Phil Reed of Ohlin & Reed to remedy damage to Amity's SE porch
• Contracted with MId State Restoration to make the repairs to Amity SE porch
• Virtual Wildflower Walk 
•  " A Watershed Moment" video created in lieu of a guided hike by Heather Liccardi of Rocky River Watershed Council; Produced by Collin Murphy
•  Winter Wonders Decorated Trees
• Winter Wonders Trails & Trivia
• Virtual sing-alongs 
• Kirby Garden clean up
• Piloted park concession stands
• Mill promotion banners in park
• Produced and mailed large brochure promoting RHP, sent to all Richfield residents
• Record-breaking 3,000 lbs garlic mustard removal
• Presentation at Richfield Library - " Ohio's Hidden Treasure, Richfield Heritage Preserve"

2019

• worked with RJRD on successful request for state budget allocation of $140,000.00 for rehabilitation of Lake Jinelle
• Worked with RJRD on successful grant application for a NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation condult with Andrea Irland 
• Worked with writers Rick Sicha & Marcia Moll on refining the extensive application for RHP to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District
• New roof on Kirby's Mill
• Window replacement on Kirby's Mill to historic standards
• Three-day ANCA (American Nature Center Association) consultation in collaboration with RJRD
• ANCA scholarship obtained
• Amity House- measurement and documentation of existing conditions
• Amity House - rainwater swale created, rim joist replaced,  new floor joists sistered in and deteriorated sections removed 
• Birding hike with Tom Romito
• Archeology hike with Dr Phil Wanyerka
• Legends hike with Lynn Richardson
• Sing Alongs
• Distributed Pocket reminder cards ("cheat sheets") re Kirby estate 100 year anniversary series
• Floral displays outside main park buildings
• Richfield Library presentation, " Eunice Merton, A Wise Woman of Richfield"
• Assisted with "Pollinator-pallooza" with Summit County Beekeepers' Association

2018

• FoCH donated $22,000.00 for the conversion of Stan's house into the park office, and provided volunteer labor for the project
• The Summit, an onboarding orientation workshop for RRJD ( in collaboration with Meg Slifcak, RJRD) 
• Trail Tracking - regular trail monitoring program 
• Fence Following- a regular monitoring of the perimeter fence
• Amity House basement cleaned & dried out.
• ​Amity House living room floor braced
• Successfully applied for an Ohio History Fund grant of $15,250.00
• Wayfinding signs made of recycled materials and installed in collaboration with RJRD volunteers
• Refurbished Oviatt Rd Welcome garden
• Moved George Ringle Bridge to High Lea creek
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series -Thru-Hiking the Buckeye Trail ( January) 
• Gund Hall Sing Along ( January)
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series  - The Archeological Findings  ( February) 
• Get to Know Your Park - Hike for Your Heart ( February) 
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series - "Want Butterflies? Feed Caterpillars" Native plants & ecosystems (March) 
• Get to Know Your Park _ Mighty "Oak-rageious" Hike (April)
• Defenders of the Forest program & garlic mustard pull  ( April ) 
• Interpretive sign dedication  (April) 
• Waterfront Sing Along ( May)
• Perennial plant sale ( May)
• Get to Know Your Park - "Conflict & Compromise" Hike  (May) 
• Garage sale (June) 
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series - Pollinators  (June) 
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series - Wetland Delineation  (July)
• Get to Know Your Park Hike - "Learn S'more about RHP" with s'more's campfire at Kirby firecircle ( August) 
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series - Share your Passion  ( August) 
• Murder Mystery Fundraisier - in collaboration with Richfield Historical Society
• Kirby Day ( sept) 
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series - Photography Intensive ( September) 
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series  - Bridle Trails of RHP ( Oct)
• Get to Know Your Park Hike "Appleicious Hike" ( Oct)
• Get to Know Your Park Hike -Sneak Peek Thank you hike ( Nov)
• Get to Know Your Park lecture series  - Fireside Chat ( Nov) 
•  Annual Christmas cookie sale expands into a festival and showcase for Gund Hall:  "Cozy Up to Winter Wonders"
• Offsite BTA presentation
• Offsite Olmstead Falls Garden Club presentation
• offsite - Richfield Community Day table

2017

• Design, production, and installation of four interpretive signboards about the Kirby estate 
• FoCH program - "Water is Life" (Oct)
• Initiated "Weekend Warriors" work parties every Saturday morning
• Built boardwalk over wet entrance of Storybook Trail
• Tour Guide Training
• Mowed grassy slopes - dam faces, mill meadow
• Cleaning Kirby Garden 
• Earth Day picnic lunch for garlic mustard volunteers. 

2016

• Successfully applied for Pipeline Grant on behalf of RJRD to assist with NRHP application process
• Mill Mobile constructed for Richfield Community Day parade
• Fence line clearing
• Initiated the Crowell HIlaka Memories Project

2015

• First annual Kirby Day  
• Protected trees from beaver damage
• Park brochures
• Revised park map
• Wrote the successful preliminary application on behalf of RJRD to place the park on the National Register of Historic Places
• Clean out, inventory, and disinfect of Mill basement

2014

• Organized four public open house events at Crowell Hilaka on behalf of Richfield Together campaign
  
• Organized a clean up/ and prep day prior to the open houses. 
• Wrote, produced, and distributed a camp guide book
• Music for the Millwheel, a fundraising event at Farm Flanagan
• Formally released our 2013 pledges, and contacted all contributors and urged that the money be donated to the Richfield Together campaign
• Flier production, mailing, door to door canvassing to support formation of RJRD
• Participated in the Working Group leading to formation of the RJRD