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Park agency wants club out of Tallmadge site
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Jun 23, 2008
TALLMADGE: When Summit County Metro Parks took control of about 290 acres just north of the county fairgrounds last year, the Corsair Model Aircraft Club was excited.
Members have been flying their remote-controlled planes and helicopters from the fairgrounds for 38 years, and the flight path takes their prized toys over a portion of the undeveloped property — a mix of ponds, woods, marsh, shrubs and meadow.
With the land being absorbed into the neighboring Munroe Falls Metro Park and not becoming a housing or commercial development, the club figured that members would be able to fly there for years to come.
''Clubs across the country co-exist with parks,'' Corsair Trustee John Ashley said. ''Parks are our friends.''
But Metro Parks, Serving Summit County has told the group that it is no longer
welcome at the site and that the 261 members should start looking for a new location to use sometime next year.
The issue is a simple one for parks Director Keith Shy: Park regulations prohibit remote-controlled toys — even if they merely fly over park property. Rules are rules and they don't allow the planes, he said.
About 4.5 million people visit county parks each year and they come for the peace and natural beauty, he added.
His firm stance has irritated club members, who are now lobbying county officials — and soon the three-member parks board — to keep their longtime home.
Other park-fly deals
Why can't the group stay, they ask, when others around the state have chummy relationships with parks and public agencies? For example, the Loveland Propbusters fly at East Fork State Park near Cincinnati. The Deer Creek Model Airs use Deer Creek State Park near Columbus. The Flying Aeroes use the Trumbull County Fairgrounds in Warren. And the North Coast Liners Club fly at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.
Ashley and other members will make a presentation today before the County Council asking for support. Councilman John Schmidt already has proposed a resolution asking the parks board — which operates independently of the county government — to allow the club to remain.
Several council members have jumped on board to support the resolution.
''We carve out niches in our parks systems for dogs, for skateboarders, for putt-putt golfers and everybody under the sun,'' Schmidt said. ''And we should carve out a niche for these folks as well.
''They've been there in excess of 35 years, and they should be allowed to continue. They don't hurt anyone.''
Parks board members Frances Buchholzer, Rainy Stitzlein and Carol Curtis did not return calls seeking comment.
The history
The controversy stems from the county donating the new park property — located along state Route 91 and north of the fairgrounds — to the parks district.
The county and district also signed an agreement last year that involves a conservation easement for the remaining county-owned property there. That land includes the fairgrounds, Weaver School and soccer fields.
The agreement mentions those uses being permitted. But the document makes no mention of the Corsair Model Aircraft Club.
''We assumed all along that somebody was watching over us,'' Ashley said. ''We got caught with our pants down. That ain't going to happen anymore. We should have been more proactive.''
Since the dispute began, the group has unearthed an October 1979 letter signed by former County Commissioner Ted Cole allowing the club — then called the Goodyear Model Aircraft Club — to use the fairgrounds property. It is unclear whether the commissioners ever formalized the agreement in a resolution or ordinance.
Parks board help
Ashley and other members also are planning to make a pitch to the parks board after meeting with County Council.
If the council supports their cause, it will lend more credibility to their side, Ashley said.
Without permission from the parks board, the club will be shut down at the fairgrounds, said Thom Bucknell, the club's vice president.
It's not as simple as re-routing the flight path because the parkland forms a C-shape around the runway. The club also can't fly away from the park because that would mean flying over the fairgrounds, creating safety concerns.
The planes currently fly over the area where a new hiking trail will be built. Model planes flying over the heads of park visitors also would be a safety hazard, Shy said.
The club — which carries $2 million worth of liability insurance — asked that the district move the trail, even offering to pay for the construction of a pavilion or area where people could stop and watch the planes.
Shy has rejected that offer.
''Why would we want to do that when [the planes are] already inconsistent with our rules?'' he asked.
He said he sympathizes with the group, and added that he's already compromised by allowing club members to continue flying there until the hiking area is developed.
''Telling people 'No' is not fun,'' he said. ''It's not one of my favorite things.''
He added that he's not against model airplanes.
''As long as they don't fly over our property, I'm fine with it,'' he said.
The fairgrounds
But just as troubling for the group, Shy is questioning whether the club even should be allowed at the fairgrounds, saying the easement permits only agricultural uses and flying model airplanes isn't one of them.
Tallmadge has inquired about using some property there for new ball fields. The ideal spot? The flat land currently occupied by the Corsair club and owned by the county.
Mayor Chris Grimm confirmed the city's interest, but said that Tallmadge doesn't want to get involved in the dispute between the parks district and the club.
''We really don't care,'' he said. ''I don't think my council cares whether they're there or they move.''
He said he would offer as a compromise some land around the corner off North Munroe Road, where Tallmadge wants to develop a shooting range.
Ashley and Bucknell said the group will continue to push to stay put. ''All [the Summit County parks board] has to do is follow the lead of many other park districts,'' Ashley said. ''They can be progressive.''
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
TALLMADGE: When Summit County Metro Parks took control of about 290 acres just north of the county fairgrounds last year, the Corsair Model Aircraft Club was excited.
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