Brimfield is looking forward to welcoming two new developments this year, one for relaxation and one for senior citizens.
McGuire Park, a 40-acre greenspace with a six-acre lake, will be accessible this summer off Cascades Boulevard. Tim McGuire, who previously owned the property, arranged for the township to take ownership in 2022.
The park borders the Tallmadge Hills residential development on the south; the city of Tallmadge on the west; Cascades Plaza, Sutton Crossings apartments, Kohl’s department store and a VA cancer center on the north; and I-76 on the east.
“It’s kind of like an oasis in a very busy area. I think people are really going to enjoy it,” township Parks and Recreation Director Cassie Weyer said.
McGuire Park tallies as Brimfield’s sixth park, joining Lions Community Park on Edson Road, Cranberry Creek Park on Lynn Road, the town green at the corner of County Road 18 and state Route 43, the town center athletic fields on Kelso Road and the 27-acre, not-yet-open Messner Acres Conservation Area on Cline Road.
“Mr. McGuire built hiking trails throughout the park, and he donated it to us with the understanding that it would become a public park, and that we would preserve his historic house that was the family’s home that they built on the property,” Weyer said.
The township has completed a 20-car parking lot entrance on Cascades Boulevard and named the lake Lake Mildred in memory of McGuire’s sister-in-law. On Weyer’s to-do list is adding kayaking and fishing, maintaining and perhaps adding more hiking trails, and providing camping opportunities for scouting organizations.
Portable toilets will service necessities at first, but Weyer said she hopes to add flush restrooms. Pavilions and a dock on the lake are also possibilities.
She also hopes to renovate the historic home McGuire’s father built in the 1930s. She knows McGuire’s land once included a timber mill that produced the wood used to build the family home, and that stone for its foundation was also quarried on the property.
A neighbor showed her an original hammer that was used to hammer the stone to build the house. Though the township’s park board has the final word, Weyer said she hopes to use the home as a visitor’s center for park guests.
Maintaining the park could mean hiring additional staffing, township Business Manager Holly Woods said. For now, the township relies on an outside company to maintain the lake.
Honoring McGuire’s wishes, Brimfield has designated the land as a public park in perpetuity.
“That’s what he wanted,” Weyer said. “He saw the development happening and handed it to the township because he didn’t want to see it developed.”
Also in the works for Brimfield is a senior living and care community for senior citizens. Groundbreaking is set this spring or summer for the multi-service level facility, which will be located diagonal of Aldi on Brimfield Ridge Circle.
DeHoff Development is constructing the 14.75-acre parcel. It will be leased by The Village of St. Edward, which already operates similar communities in Fairlawn, Wadsworth and Green.
The development will include a 107-unit stand-alone assisted living facility and 32 apartments housed in 16 duplexes where seniors can live independently. DeHoff President Dan DeHoff said he hopes to outfit each apartment with call buttons so residents can access immediate help if needed.
Once independent living becomes unsustainable, the residents can transfer to the assisted living facility. Patients who require assistance with dementia and Alzheimer’s conditions can receive care in the facility’s memory care unit.
Brimfield Zoning Inspector Mike Hlad said he expects the facility to initially employ about 43 people, but expects that number to increase to about 100 as units fill up.
The Village of St. Edward, a faith-based non-profit organization, has been in business since 1964.
“Brimfield is honestly lucky to get them,” DeHoff said. “They make a big investment. They’re community based. They’re mission-focused. They’re honestly really nice humans over there running St. Edward. They’ve been at it a long time. They know what they’re doing. They know how to operate facilities and they have a great reputation.”
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.