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Upper Ridgewood Basin Improvements Project

Update on project timeline: Construction is complete, restoration is ongoing through spring 2024.

Updated June 12, 2024: Sewer District to open Parma’s Upper Ridgewood Basin

Updated April 4, 2024: Temporary fencing will remain in place through the spring to allow vegetation to become established. The fence will be removed early this summer and at that point the fence line will be reseeded and restored.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Regional Stormwater Management Program addresses water quality, flooding, and erosion issues throughout our service area, which includes the City of Parma. As part of the program, the Sewer District is designing a project to reduce flooding in the neighborhoods downstream of Upper Ridgewood Basin.

Upper Ridgewood basin was formed about a century ago when the decision was made to restrict the flow of Big Creek and create a recreational pond. Since then, development has increased hard surfaces and stormwater runoff, leading to significant flooding. In recent years, rainfall patterns have intensified, exacerbating flooding problems as well.

At the completion of the project, residents can expect to see the following enhancements:

  • During rainstorms, the basin will fill with water and slowly release it.
  • Additional trees and robust native plants which will provide color around the basin throughout the year.
  • Structures to remove sediment and regular maintenance of the basin, including sediment removal. Currently, 75% of the basin is filled with sediment; there is about 6 feet of sediment at the bottom, affecting storage capacity of the basin with no existing mechanism to remove it.
  • Maintaining the current level water (about about 18 inches in depth) in the basin but lowering it to the bottom of the basin with permanent pools.  This means that there will be significantly more space to hold stormwater.
  • Reduction of flooding by 40% in the neighborhood based on our latest engineering models. Currently, about 150 houses, garages and other structures are flooded during heavy rain events.
  • An ADA-accessible path will wrap around the basin from Ridgewood Lakes Drive, south to the splashpad and east to the gazebo.

Construction cost is estimated to be $3.4 million.

Concept and rendering

Posted February 10, 2022 / Updated February 22, 2022

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If you would like to stay informed, please email Watershed Team Leader Nicole Velez.