July 18: Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners

Covered by Documenters Stacie Simon (notes) and Gennifer Harding-Gosnell (live-tweets)

Zoo Science team touts research to commissioners  

The Cleveland Metroparks’ Zoo Science research team presented overviews and outcomes on their projects to the Board of Park Commissioners on July 18.

Research curators and zoo scientists Noah Dunham and Diana Koester spoke to the board about several long-term projects their team has been working on. Koester described a recent project studying Matschie’s tree kangaroos, a species native to Southeast Asia whose population has been experiencing difficulty breeding. Koester said research showed the breeding troubles came from the kangaroo population becoming too overweight. So, the research team “overhauled the entire set of diet recommendations for all zoos feeding this species,” according to Koester, “and we continue to work with this species supporting the zoos as they transition over to this diet.”

Dunham explained the details on another research project the group is working on that studies heart disease risks in gorillas and has established what baseline echocardiogram parameters should be for a gorilla’s heart.

CMSD students learn at West Creek Reservation

Meanwhile, students from Cleveland have been busy at the Watershed Stewardship Center in Parma. The center, located at the West Creek Reservation, served 12,000 students in 2023, according to manager Bethany Majeski.

Majeski explained the STREAM initiative that gives students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District a hands-on look at careers in ecology and conservation. This past school year, students worked alongside scientists to complete a water restoration project using native plants in West Creek Reservation.      

Metroparks business revenues up across the board

Metroparks Chief Financial Officer Wade Steen reported to the Board of Park Commissioners that business enterprise revenues are up $115,000 compared to last year at this time. According to Steen, all enterprise areas have seen increases in revenue; concessions are up 9.6% and revenue from dock rentals is up 9.5%. 

“From where I sit as your CFO,” Steen told the commissioners, “everything is where we would want it to be.” 

Metroparks employee retires after 41 years

The Board of Commissioners recognized Director of Parks Jim Kamps, who is retiring after more than 41 years of service to the Cleveland Metroparks. Kamps started as a handyperson for the Metroparks, working his way up through technician and management positions to become the Director of Parks for several west side reservations. Metroparks’ Chief Executive Officer Brian Zimmerman said Kamps was a “father figure” to him when Zimmerman first started at the Metroparks. 

Kamps thanked Metroparks officials for involving him in the Lakefront Reservation and Wendy Park project, saying he was “very proud of the Cleveland Metroparks as an employee” for the transformative work done there.    

Read the notes from Documenter Stacie Simon:

Cleveland Metroparks – Board of Park Commissioners 07_18_2024

Read the live-tweet thread from Gennifer Harding-Gosnell:

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