In March of 1999 on the corner of West 8th and Bayfront Parkway, Country Fair purchased a parcel of property and decided to build a new Country Fair at this location. This site is also adjacent to the severely eroding eastern bank of Cascade Creek. The S.O.N.S. (Save Our Native Species) of Lake Erie Fishing Club along with other interested groups approached Country Fair about numerous environmental concerns related to the site.

With the excellent cooperation of Country Fair and many other partners, including the Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force, Strong Vincent Environmental Science Class, Jr. PLEWA, Alice Sjolander of the French Creek Project, Willow Construction, the Erie County Conservation District, and the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie, PLEWA applied for and received a Growing Greener Grant from the Department of Environmental Protection to stabilize 250 feet of the Cascade Creek streambank protecting it from future erosion problems and reducing the amount of sediment entering the stream.

Not only did Country Fair provide match monies for the project, but continued as a good neighbor with the installation of underground stormwater retention basins along with oil and grease separators placed in the catch basins. Three rows of Gabion Baskets, MacMat, and erosion control fencing were installed to stabilize the bank from soil loss and provide a protected area for planting over 400 seedlings, live stakes, and bare root plants of native species. These were planted along the streambank by partnering volunteers.

This project was the first project to be completed under the direction of PLEWA and is a direct result of the successful private/public collaboration between Country Fair, PLEWA, and the many other partners involved. Country Fair and the S.O.N.S. keep up with the on-going maintenance of the project site and a sign commemorating the project and its many partners has been erected.

The S.O.N.S. (Save Our Native Species) of Lake Erie Fishing Club established the first erosion control project on Cascade Creek with recycled Rip-Rap stone from the old railroad bridge at Front Street and State Street, now known as the Bayfront Parkway at State Street. (more…)