Cleveland, OH
Why Did the Deal for the Metroparks to Take Over East Cleveland’s Portion of Forest Hill Park Fall Apart?
Tim Evanson/FlickrCC
Forest Hill Park
The Cleveland Metroparks won’t be partnering with East Cleveland to restore and manage the city’s part of Forest Hill Park following an incendiary exchange of letters and accusations of lying and allegations of a mishandled payment. The turmoil has featured expectant infighting in East Cleveland and vigorous denials from the parks system that anything improper happened.
East Cleveland City Council unanimously passed a resolution in July 2022 for a “partnership” with Cleveland Metroparks to restore and maintain the roughly 175 acres donated from the Rockefeller Estate that make up the city’s portion of Forest Hill Park. The legislation stipulated that money from the American Rescue Plan Act “for Cleveland Metroparks’ expenses authorized by this resolution shall not exceed $2,000,000.”
However, the relationship between Council and Metroparks grew complicated after Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman was invited to discuss the proposed partnership in Council but did not appear at two meetings.
“We had anticipated that Mr. Zimmerman or somebody else from Metroparks would be coming to Council to talk with us,” said East Cleveland City Council Vice President Patricia Blochowiak. “And the first time we expected him, I was told later that [former law director] Willa Hemmons knew that he wasn’t free to come, but nobody told Council. So the second time, he had asked for written questions and at the last minute he said he couldn’t come.”
At the time, some members of Council wanted to bring in a lawyer not connected to the Parks Department to review the lease agreement, which Blochowiak said was incomplete.
“The lease agreement, as I saw it, didn’t have seven or eight exhibits that were supposed to be part of it. And one of them related to the use of the park by the Alumni Association that has a huge reunion the day before Labor Day, every year. So that’s something that some people were very concerned about.”
In a June email to Metroparks employees, Brewer wrote:
“Council did not authorize the mayor and interim deputy director of finance to transfer $2 million to the Cleveland Metroparks in advance of a lease and the legislation that authorized it. There is an unreadiness among some of the members that the lease may not be in the city’s best interests. This is far from a done deal so discussions, now, would be helpful. There are members who want the $2 million return to the city’s treasury before any further discussions; and who see the advance money grab as an act of bad faith. There will be no lease legislation if Cleveland Metroparks does not meet with Council.”
In response, Metroparks chief legal and ethics officer Rose Fini denied that Metroparks was, “in the receipt of $2 million dollars from the City of East Cleveland.” On August 14, Council President addressed Zimmerman directly in a scathing letter accusing Fini of lying and Metroparks of breaching Council’s trust.
“As $2 million in public funds was transferred unlawfully by unauthorized municipal officials to your organization, we would have expected the officials on your side to confirm instead of deceiving us about the transfer as your attorney did. The lie makes the transaction appear more like a theft…We demand the return of federal money. It is the council, not the mayor, who controls the finances of a municipal corporation.”
Zimmerman responded with a letter of his own, defending Fini and Metroparks. He acknowledged that Metroparks had submitted an invoice at the request of Mayor Brandon King’s administration but maintained that, despite the administration’s urging to do so, no Metroparks employee picked up a check from East Cleveland.
“CLEVELAND METROPARKS IS NOT IN RECEIPT OF $2,000,000 FROM THE CITY OF EAST CLEVELAND,” Zimmerman wrote in all-caps. He also informed Gowdy that the Metroparks would not be moving forward with the partnership to revitalize Forest Hill Park, “given the gravity of the unfounded allegations levied.”
Some in Council have pointed to King in unscrambling the mess between East Cleveland and Metroparks. Brewer told Scene that he personally witnessed a Metroparks employee in a blue shirt walking to retrieve the check before a finance employee told him that the employee was refused.
He alleges that Mayor Brandon King replaced the employee with a temporary payroll clerk and days later the check was successfully signed out. Gowdy echoed this in a second letter to Zimmerman, saying that the check was written by “temporary payroll clerk Latasha Williams”.
Gowdy described it as a “backdoor deal with Brandon King,” and Blochowiak said, “the mayor is alleged to have said that would pressure the Council to approve the lease agreement,” but did not provide a corroborating source.
In response to requests for comment from Scene to King’s office, an account titled East Cleveland Media responded with the subject line “CHAOS IN COUNCIL.” The email said, “Below is the link to our latest YouTube video. Please like, comment, share, and subscribe so that you don’t miss any official East Cleveland updates,” and linked to a video from the City of East Cleveland YouTube account.
In the video, King accuses Council of failing to pass legislation and Blochowiak of causing chaos, alleging that she “led the attack on East Cleveland Black leadership,” and accused Gowdy of having “severe literacy issues”.
In trying to reach East Cleveland’s finance department for clarification, Scene spoke by phone with someone at the city who refused to identify himself. “I’m always getting in trouble with these things so I don’t really want to give my name at this time,” the man said. “My best answer to you is that that check has been voided. So that’s a good answer. So that’s the most I know of it.”
A check sign-out log provided to Scene by clerk of council Eric Brewer appears to show that someone signed out a $2 million check with an illegible signature, listing the payee as Cleveland Metroparks.
In another letter to Gowdy, Zimmerman notes that the sign-out sheet “appears to be an internal log sheet that is signed by both East Cleveland employees and vendors…Nowhere does the log indicate the signor’s relationship to the vendor. This confusing document does not evidence that a Cleveland Metroparks employee signed for” the check.
The Metroparks declined to comment when reached by Scene.
Without Metroparks on board for the park restoration, Gowdy says the city will use the $2 million to fund revitalization efforts.
An online petition renewing calls for investment in restoring Forest Hill Park has gathered nearly 700 signature — including Blochowiak’s — since it was posted last week.
“We are not casting blame or judgement,” the petition reads in part. “We are writing with an urgent invitation from all of us to reset the conversation about the lease agreement and subsequent investment and partnership in restoring the largest single greenspace on the east side of Greater Cleveland.”
Ideastream talked to many residents who simply want the city to re-engage the Metroparks.
“The first emotions were embarrassment and frustration,” said one. “When you think about the politics and dynamics, it’s like, ‘How did we get to the point where we’re about to throw away this multi-million investment?’”
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A man wanted for the 2022 murder of a Cleveland teenager is now behind bars after trespassing at a local deli with a loaded gun, according to investigators.
Agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit arrested 20-year-old Marcus McCargo and another man last Thursday outside of the E. 81st Deli in Cleveland.
According to OIU, McCargo was carrying firearm equipped with a machine gun conversion device, known as a “Glock switch,” and a loaded extended magazine.
When agents attempted to stop the men from driving away, OIU said McCargo “tried to elude capture by rapidly accelerating in reverse, then forward, into an agent’s police vehicle.”
At the time of his arrest, McCargo was a fugitive who had been wanted since August 2023 following his indictment for the murder of 18-year-old Samell Watt.
According to Cleveland Police, Watt was fatally shot on June 1, 2022 while walking down Anson Avenue in the city’s Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood.
McCargo was indicted on multiple charges, including aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and felonious assault.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday morning and is currently being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on $1,000,000 bond.
Four other men charged in connection with the 18-year-old’s murder are currently in prison.
Court records show Sherman Worley Jr., Shermar Worley, William Worley III and Izayaih McCoy were recently sentenced after pleading guilty to reduced charges.
In addition the murder case, McCargo also faces felony gun charges and other offenses in connection with his recent arrest by OIU agents.
OIU has not released the name of the armed man arrested at the deli with McCargo as they have not yet been officially charged.
Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cities across Northeast Ohio have opened warming centers and overnight shelters for those in need of escaping the cold snap.
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Closings/Delays in Northeast Ohio
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WARMING CENTERSCleveland
Cleveland city officials will have warming centers open through Tuesday for residents needing shelter.
- Michael Zone Recreation Center, 6301 Lorain Ave.
- Lonnie Burten Recreation Center, 2511 E. 46th St.
- Collinwood Recreation Center, 16300 Lakeshore Blvd.
- Zelma George Recreation Center, 3155 MLK Blvd.
All four shelters will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday and from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Anyone who needs overnight shelter should call 211.
Akron
Mayor Shammas Malik extended the hours at Summit Lake Community Center, located at 380 W Crosier St.
The community center will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Wednesday.
The Emergency Overnight Shelter located at 111 East Voris St. will also be open through Wednesday.
Alliance
The Rodman Library at 215 E. Broadway St. in Alliance is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Salvation Army at 57 W. Main St. in Alliance is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
The Commons at 405 S. Linden Ave in Alliance is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
The Clothed in Righteousness at 55 E. Main St. in Alliance is open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. It is also open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Thursday.
Avon Lake
The Anchor Recreation Facility, at 33483 Lake Road, will be open Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. as a temporary warming center.
Canton
The Crossroads United Methodist at 120 Cleveland Ave. in Canton is open form 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. as needed.
Edward “Peel” Coleman Community Center is open at 1400 Sherrick Road SE from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.
The Refuge of Hope at 715 Second St. is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Creston
The Creston Branch of the Wayne County Public Library at 116 S. Main St. will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The library is open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Cuyahoga Falls
Mayor Don Waters activated the Natatorium as a warming center on Monday through the extreme temperatures.
Check-in for the warming center is at the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department at 2310 2nd Street and use the entrance near the Oakwood Drive intersection.
The Amenities available will be restrooms, water and a warm, safe area. There will not be food, cots or showers.
Dalton
The Dalton Branch of the Wayne County Public Library at 127 S. Church St. will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The library is open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Doylestown
The Doylestown Branch of the Wayne County Public Library at 169 N. Portage St. will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The library is open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Elyria
The city will open an emergency warming center at 101 South Park Dr. from Monday to Wednesday.
The warming center will be open at 7 a.m. on Monday.
Call 211 for warming shelter locations and information.
Jefferson
The Jefferson Rec Center will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kent
The Shepherd’s House of Portage County, 2645 State Route 58, in Ravenna, is open for a day and night shelter through Wed., Jan. 22.
Lakewood
Lakewood’s Department of Human Service activated Cove Community Center as a warming center.
The center will be open Jan. 21 and 22. from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Lorain
The warming centers will open at 6 p.m. on Sunday through 11 a.m. on Monday at Lorain High School.
If school is closed on Tuesday, the warming center will remain open until 11 a.m.
A warming center at Faith Ministries Church will be open from Monday at 11 a.m. through Thursday at 11 a.m.
A release from Lorain County said anyone is welcome at the shelters.
Orville
The Orville Public Library at 230 N. Main St. will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The library is open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Ravenna
Ravenna Police posted to Facebook that Shepard’s House of Portage County will be a night and daytime shelter from Sunday to Wednesday.
People can get a hot meal, shower and a load of laundry.
“When the temperature falls below 20 degrees, we open our warming center at which time individuals who are not registered with back ground checks, may come in. In the event the temperatures during the day fall below 20 degrees, then the warming center is open during the day,” the post read.
You can ride for free to the shelter with PARTA.
Richmond Heights
The Richmond Heights Community Center at 27285 Highland Rd. is serving as a warming center for anyone in need of somewhere warm, especially those affected by the Chardon/Washington power outage.
Rittman
The Rittman Branch of the Wayne County Public Library at 75 N. Main St. will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The library is open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Rittman Rec Center at 200 Saurer St. is also open as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The rec center is open from 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Shreve
The Shreve Branch of the Wayne County Public Library at 189 W. McConkey St. will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The library is open from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
West Salem
The West Salem Branch of the Wayne County Public Library at 99 East Buckeye St. will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The library is open 1-7 p.m. on Monday and Thursday; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Tuesday; and 1-5 p.m. on Wednesday.
St. Stephen’s Hackman Hall at 44 Britton St. is also open through Jan. 23.
The hall is open from 1-4 p.m. on Monday; and 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
Wooster
The Main Branch of the Wayne County Public Library at 220 West Liberty St. is open will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23.
The library is open from 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
OneEighty Oasis Recovery Club at 104 Spink St. will serve as a warming center through Jan. 23 for adults only, and additional restrictions may apply.
The club is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 3-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
Salvation Army at 437 S. Market St. will serve as a warming center this week.
Salvation Army is open 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and hot meals are provided at noon and 5:30 p.m.
PARKING BANS
Drivers may face dangerous conditions during their travels in Northeast Ohio.
Several local officials have issued snow parking bans. Here’s a list of active parking bans and closures in our area. The list will be updated.
- Mentor
- Newburgh Heights
- Painesville
- Shaker Heights
19 First Alert Safety Guide: Are you prepared for severe weather?
See weather conditions across Northeast Ohio with the First Alert Camera Network
Copyright 2025 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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