Hinckley trustees ask for a hearing regarding Metroparks request for liquor permit

HINCKLEY TWP. — The Hinckley Township board of trustees objected to the Cleveland Metroparks' request for a liquor permit during its meeting Tuesday. The township recently received a request from the Ohio Department of Commerce Liquor Control to weigh in on a liquor permit for classes D1, D2 and D3 for the Cleveland Metroparks' Hinckley Reservation. A D1 permit is for beer, D2 is for wine and mixed drinks and D3 is for liquor. Last May, Berea residents passed a liquor option for Wallace Lake, which is part of the Metroparks, by 62 percent of the vote. Trustee Russ Paintiff said police in that area would be a good resource to talk to regarding any increases in crime or driving under the influence since the liquor license was instated. Hinckley resident Chris Studor expressed concerns about safety and an increase in the need for police, fire and maintenance if the liquor permit is granted. "This is a family site," she said. "For all the years that people have come, they know that it is very much family-oriented. One of my biggest concerns is D3 being hard liquor, and (there is) very little space between that concession stand and the beach itself, where little kids are." Hinckley resident John Kalas said he believes bringing alcohol to Hinckley Reservation is both a bad idea and a dangerous one. He brought up concerns of crime and violence and expressed frustrations with the Metroparks overall. "I think that loading up tourists full of booze and letting them loose on our dark and speedy country roads will cost us our safety and our peace of mind, and eventually it will affect the way that everyone drives in the township," he said. "Marijuana has been legalized, and you can rest assured that the moment that people's inhibitions get lowered at the spillway, there'll be plenty of folks sparking up. Personally, the image of booze and weed does not convey one of family and community to me." At Tuesday's meeting, the trustees moved to request a hearing to be held in the county seat, Medina, regarding the liquor permit request. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.