Coventry PEACE Park Renovation

Library Board President Vikas Turahkia’s Speech at the PEACE Park Groundbreaking, July 7, 2024 

Good afternoon everyone,

Thank you all for joining us today. As the president of the library’s board of trustees, I am so excited to speak at today’s groundbreaking for the new PEACE Park.

The PEACE Park was a beloved space long before the library took on its maintenance and stewardship in 2018. The playground that was here was unique—volunteers worked with the Coventry School PTA to build a wooden structure unlike anything else around here. Its big slide served as a rite of passage, and its castle-like turrets fueled the imagination of countless kids over the decades. But at 30 years old, it needed to be replaced, and the precedent set by those parents and volunteers who built that amazing playground meant that whatever came in its place had to be something special as well.

We think the new playground will meet that high standard, and we’re so excited that, with the help of the FFHL, the city, and many donors in the community, the park is starting to take shape. Along with safety upgrades and improved access that will help the park continue to serve as a fun and welcoming space for all, some of the new playground’s features include a 20-foot-tall cardinal structure that kids can climb up, climb in, look out, and slide down; a toddler playground, a zip line, and swings. With its redesign, the park will also have an ADA accessible storybook loop walking path, a half-court for basketball, a performance stage, a picnic grove with benches scattered throughout, over 100 trees, additional lighting, security cameras, and WiFi.

Part of our library’s mission is to provide free access to services and facilities for all ages, maintain safe and welcoming spaces, focus on programs and services that transform people’s lives, and this park is one more way in which we can fulfill that mission.

This renovation will allow us to extend our library services and programming outdoors with storytimes in the park, nature-related activities, and sustainability education. It’s also going to make the park an even more vibrant gathering place for the community, serving as an attractive destination for residents of Cleveland Heights, University Heights, and beyond. So many great things are happening in Cleveland Heights right now, and the future looks so bright. We’re excited to be a part of all the good things coming.

Thank you.

Vikas Turakhia

“Match Madness” tips off for Coventry PEACE Park

The Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries (FFHL) is pleased to announce its Match Madness campaign to help pay for the basketball the half-court in the new Coventry PEACE Park. An anonymous donor will match up to $25,000 in donations received by the FFHL between March 17 and April 8, coinciding with the men’s NCAA basketball tournament.

“We listened to our community and added a basketball half-court to the Park’s design,” said FFHL President Jack Valancy. “Basketball is a wholesome, aerobic activity for boys, girls, teens and adults. It can teach teamwork, fairness, respect for one’s opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing.”

The half-court feature will include a graphic representation of the Dugway Brook that flows beneath the playground, a basketball hoop, and a concrete retaining wall that can be used for other ball skills.

On March 27, Cilantro Taqueria in Coventry Village (2783 Euclid Heights Blvd) is supporting the Match Madness campaign by donating 20% of receipts from customers who mention “Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries” when ordering. This will also be matched by the donor.

Donations may be made at bit.ly/ffhlnews or by sending a check to FFHL c/o Heights Libraries, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights Ohio 44118. Donors are also welcome to call Kaela Sweeney, 216-932-3600 ext. 1290.

The PEACE Park, located next to the Coventry Village Branch Library, will undergo a complete renovation in 2024, with a ground breaking scheduled for July 7. Over 100 trees and a 20-foot-tall cardinal climbing structure and a 32-foot slide will be added to the green space along with an ADA accessible storybook loop walking path.

Library revises PEACE Park budget and timeline

At its Monday, February 19, meeting, the Heights Libraries board of trustees approved an updated budget and timeline for the PEACE Park playground renovation.

The new budget is $3.2 million, up from an estimated $2.5 million. The new construction timeline has moved the park’s completion date to early December 2024, from the original estimate of summer 2024. (See the updated plan image, below.)

“Our board wants to ensure that the new PEACE Park fulfills our mission to provide safe, welcoming spaces with equal access to services for all of our residents,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “The PEACE Park is an extension of the Coventry Village branch, so we have added features and services that have increased the price tag, but that are necessary, such as wifi that extends to the entire park, more lighting, security cameras, and construction of a retaining wall by the building.”

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Cleveland Heights Planning Commission approves revised PEACE Park plans

Heights Libraries is pleased to announce that on Wednesday, May 10, the City of Cleveland Heights Planning Commission approved the Library’s revised conditional use permit for renovations to the Coventry PEACE Park. This allows Heights Libraries to move ahead with its construction timeline for the public park, with the understanding that it will provide the Commission with additional plans for lighting, the walking path, and the new trees at a future date.

Click images below to see updated designs.

Design Work Continues

The Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries (FFHL) is working with Earthscape Play for the PEACE Park playground design process. The following images are preliminary designs of some of the play structures that will be featured in the new playground.

The cardinal image shows the main play structure on the renovated playground, featuring a large wooden cardinal, a climbing nest, and a slide. The “Junior Area” image depicts some of the components that will be a part of the toddler play area. The playground is part of Phase 1 of the library’s 3-year plan to renovate Coventry PEACE Park.

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  Cardinal Play Structure

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  Toddler Play Elements

Landscape architect Andrew Sargeant presents preliminary PEACE Park design concepts at the Founders’ Reception in January 2023.

On January 11, 2023, around 30 PEACE Park Founders and friends of the park gathered to learn more about the PEACE Park design and fundraising updates. At the time of the event, The Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries (FFHL) was over halfway to their $1.2 million goal. Based on public feedback from the early design concepts, the new park designs include over 60 new trees, a large pollinator garden, half-court basketball, an accessible quarter-mile trail, a performance stage, and an updated playground featuring a large cardinal structure.

See the PEACE Park Founders’ Reception presentation here, and look at the preliminary designs and before/after renderings of the park below.

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  Coventry PEACE Park Before Rendering

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  Coventry PEACE Park After Rendering

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  PEACE Park Concept Plan

The current playground at the Coventry PEACE Park.June 2021

In May, Heights Libraries contracted with landscape architects Andrew Sargeant and Jim McKnight, at $9,000 each, to prepare sketches and develop an overall plan for the property, including cost estimates. The park design could include an accessible playground, a walking storybook loop, an amphitheater, and outdoor seating areas. Fundraising for this project will be needed before any construction can begin, and will be handled by the nonprofit Fund for the Future of Heights Libraries.

The original playground was built in 1993 on the steep hillside site by volunteers from the community, organized by the Coventry School PTO. Over the years, maintenance on the playground has been done by volunteers, the school district, and now the Library.

Sargeant and McKnight will  coordinate and gather public input about the park through public meetings.

Landscape architect Andrew Sargeant gathers feedback from community members at the Coventry PEACE Park Design Jam.

The first event was  the Coventry PEACE Park Design Jam on Sunday, June 27. Community members were invited to visit five stations and engage in activities that will help Sargeant and McKnight determine what the community wants from the popular public space.

The second event, on Saturday, July 24, also from 1 – 4 p.m., will be an open house at the Coventry Village branch, where Sargeant and McKnight will display preliminary design proposals and answer questions from the community about the potential designs.

The third event will take place on Monday, September 20, at 7:30 p.m. Sargeant and McKnight will present final plans for the park, including costs, which could include an accessible playground, a walking storybook loop, an amphitheater, and outdoor seating areas.

What do you think? Early Design Concepts

On July 24, 2021, landscape architects Andrew Sargeant and Jim McKnight presented their preliminary designs for a renovated PEACE Park and playground to the public at an open house at the Coventry branch. If you were unable to attend and give your feedback, you can do so here, below, at step 3.

1. Watch a recording of the presentation.

2. Look at and/or download design drawings

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  Shipwreck Site Plan

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  Bird Site Plan

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  Shipwreck Playground

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  Bird Playground

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  Shipwreck Reading Garden

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  Bird Reading Garden

3. Give your feedback by taking this short survey.