Some Chippewa Lake park access points close for winter

Two access points at Chippewa Lake are closed for the winter season as of Sunday, with the Medina County Park District citing concerns about protecting nearby waterways and preventing damage to trail surfaces. The Kennard Road parking lot and the Birding and Bridle Trail will remain closed through April 30, according to Nathan Eppink, director of the Medina County Park District. Although both closures follow the same seasonal schedule, the district has different reasons for restricting access at each location. The Kennard Road parking lot is located next to a wetland and the Chippewa Lake outlet. Closing the lot during the winter helps prevent road salt from entering nearby waterways, Eppink said. The parking lot primarily provides access for fishing and kayaking. The district closes it from Sunday through April 30 to avoid introducing road salt near the sensitive water areas. The Birding and Bridle Trail follows the same schedule, but its closure is intended to protect the trail surface. The trail has a mowed surface that can be damaged during wet and thawing conditions. Horses traveling across the trail during those periods are more likely to damage the walking surface, Eppink said. The district's seasonal schedule is intended to limit that damage and help preserve the trail for visitors when it reopens in the spring. The closures do not affect all public access to Chippewa Lake. Several other options will remain available to visitors throughout the winter. The Tumble Bug Trail on Longacre Lane remains open daily, Eppink said. The public boat launch on Westfield Landing also remains open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Chippewa Lake is one of the few locations in the park district that does not close at dark. The district defines closing at dark as one hour after sunset. Visitors planning to spend time at Chippewa Lake during the colder months should account for the seasonal restrictions and use the access points that remain open. The Kennard Road parking lot and Birding and Bridle Trail are scheduled to reopen May 1. Contact Brooke Adams at 440-822-8373 or badams@medina-gazette.com.