Cleveland Lakefront Parks Conservancy Draft (Executive Summary)
Cleveland Lakefront Park Investment Program

Appendix A– Case Studies

The list of Park Conservancies below provide a brief summary of each a selection of organizations in the United States and does not reflect all of the great organizations working in partnership with cities to steward their urban parks. However, these organizations have been largely successful and provide similarities to landscape, governmental entities and needs that exist in Cleveland. This summary of examples in no way suggests a comprehensive understanding of the operation of these organizations and will require further study to utilize lessons learned with the Park Conservancy Model.

1. Central Park Conservancy (843 acres)
   Central Park Conservancy is the signature Conservancy organization n the United States that was established in 1980. It is the largest Conservancy both in staffing and budget. The partnership between the Conservancy and New York City has increased conservancy responsibilities over the years with today the Conservancy providing 85% of the budget and management and program activities for Central Park. Today the park boasts a staff of over 200 employees on all aspects of park management, programming and restoration.
   http://www.centralparknyc.org
2. Golden Gate Conservancy ( 74,000 acres)
   The second largest Conservancy in the Country, the Golden Gate Conservancy works with the National Park Service to provide stewardship and programming to Golden Gate National Park. The Conservancy has raised nearly $100 million since its inception in 1981 an continues to grow and provide support to the park in variety of ways. It possesses a staff of over 100 and has some of the most innovative revenue ventures in the country under the conservancy model including gift shops, and hotels.
   http://www.parksconservancy.org/
3. Piedmont Park Conservancy (190 acres)
   The conservancy was formed in 1989 and to this date has raised $12 million to the renovation of dilapidated structures and cover landscape and operating expenses through the establishment of an endowment. A staff of eleven is implementing a recently established master plan led by the Conservancy.
   http://www.piedmontpark.org/
4. Buffalo Bayou Partnership (10 miles)
   A partnership formed with the City of Houston in 1986 created a non-profit authority to plan and manage capital projects along 10 miles of the Buffalo Bayou. Since its inception in 1986, led by the City of Houston, the Partnership has raised $45 million for its planning and implementation of this corridor. The Partnership, with a staff of ten, besides raising funding, provides programming and restoration expertise.
   http://www.buffalobayou.org/
   
5. Herman Park Conservancy (450 acres)
   Founded in 1991, this park is of great interest due to the similar size as the Cleveland Lakefront parks. This is a partnership between the conservancy and the City of Houston to manage and operate this signature park for the City. The Conservancy has raised $14 million for park improvements that includes a theater and improvements to a lake. Today, the conservancy has a staff of eight providing management and programs to the park.
   http://www.hermannpark.org/
6. Prospect Park Alliance (585 acres)
   Prospect Park, once a dilapidated urban park in the hear t of Brooklyn, New York, has transformed itself as one of the premier urban parks in the country. Formed in 1987, the Alliance is a well established partnership with the City of New York that has an income of $12 million in 2007 with over 100 employees. Its successes include, the refurbishment of a carousel, and the restoration of its signature woodlands.
   http://www.prospectpark.org/
7. Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (800+ acres)
   The Buffalo Conservancy has evolved in the late 1970’s from a friends group for the Parks to establishing a partnership agreement with the City and County in 2004 to be the primary stewards of maintaining, operating, restoring and enhancing these signature parks and their associated parkway system. With a staff of 16, the conservancy receives a portion of its funding from the County and raises additional private support to steward the park system.
   http://buffaloolmstedparks.org/
8. Pittsburgh Park Conservancy
   The Pittsburgh Park Conservancy founded in 1996 formed a partnership with the City of Pittsburgh to provide support to programming, planning, design, maintenance and restoration to four signature parks in the City Pittsburgh that covers approximately 1500 acres. The Conservancy has evolved its role over time initiating educational programming in 2000 and then taking on the capital maintenance role in 2003. Today, the Conservancy boasts a full time staff of 14 and continues to bring private support to the parks.
   http://www.pittsburghparks.org/
9. Detroit River Waterfront Conservancy
   While the economy of Detroit continues to strained, the City has invested a large commitment to the Detroit River Waterfront through the formation of a conservancy in 2003. Since its inception, foundations, local corporations, and individuals have brought $50 million to improve the waterfront in Detroit and are currently engaged in a $140 million capital campaign. The Conservancy focuses on improvements and management of the waterfront to make it an active waterfront with a variety of venues. The Conservancy has a staff of eight providing services to a future 5-1/2 mile waterfront linear park.
   http://www.detroitriverfront.org/
10. Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
    The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy was established in 1987 and was formed to implement the vision to transform the Brooklyn Bridge docks into a signature city park. The Conservancy is part of a partnership between the City of New York, the State of New York and a Community Development Corporation. The Conservancy has raised $5 million and has a staff of eight today that focuses on implementing the vision for the future 85 acre park and serves as the primary event coordinator and programmer for the park.
    http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/
11. Baltimore Waterfront Partnership
    The Baltimore Waterfront Partnership is a non-profit organization with a partnership with the City of Baltimore. The Partnership was newly formed in 2007 and is funded both by the local government and private funding. While it is still in the formation and start-up stage, it focuses on the waterfront with members of its Board key members of businesses along the waterfront.
    http://waterfrontpartnership.org/
12. Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park (formerly Cuyahoga Valley Park Association)
    The Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association is one of the few models of a public-private partnership in the Ohio related to a public park. The Association, which was formed in the late 1990’s has raised significant private funding since its inception to provide primarily environmental education partnership with the National Park. This has been a successful partnership that is being emulated across the country with other National Parks.
    http://www.cvnpa.org/
13. Cascade Locks Park Association
    Cascade Locks Park Association was formed in 1989 as a non-profit organization to foster the development and stewardship of the 50 acre Cascade Locks Park in the City of Akron. The Association is formed with a partnership agreement between the City of Akron and Summit County and close coordination with the National Park Service. A key accomplishment was the raising of $1 million from private and public funding partners for the restoration of the Mustill House and Store. The Association’s staff of three continues to lead the effort of implementing the park’s master plan.
    http://www.cascadelocks.org/index.htm
14. Cleveland Zoological Society
    http://www.clevelandzoosociety.org/
    

CONTENTS:

Introduction

The Cleveland Lakefront’s Parks

Parks and the Local Economy

History of Cleveland’s Lakefront

Cleveland’s Lakefront Vision

A Public Private Partnership

Park Conservancy

A New Approach To Our City’s Front Door: A Public-Private Partnership

A Case for a Cleveland Lakefront Park Conservancy

The Proposal

Timeline

Key Staff / Recommended Letters of Support

Appendix A– Case Studies