Our Protected Properties
The Gates Mills Land Conservancy protects nearly 700 acres of important natural, recreational and scenic resources within the Village and the Chagrin River Watershed. Learn more about Gates Mills Land Conservancy protected lands. And click here for a printable map.
1. RIVER ROAD SOUTH
Dr. Tim Nice and his wife Sarah have placed a conservation easement on five acres of meadow on the east bank of the river.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 5.3
2. WICK WOODS AT RIVER'S EDGE
In the river flood plain and situated on River Road, the Douglas Wick Family has donated 20 acres of dense pine forest to the Conservancy.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 20
3. THE ARTZ PROPERTY
Returning to the east bank, Philip and Mauri Artz have preserved much of their land by restricting development to one house on 16 acres overlooking the valley and the river.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 16
4. RIVER FLOOD PLAINS
Farther downstream, with the generous assistance of a neighboring property owner, the Conservancy was able to purchase 3.5 acres of wetland and wooded riverfront.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 3.5
5. FELLER CURVES
Also on the east bank, the Feller Family gifted 4.5 acres to GMLC, protecting the land forever from development.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 4.5
6. RIVER LOWLANDS
The Conservancy and a group of villagers, including families on Riverview Road, were able to purchase this piece of unique riverfront land from the estate of a former resident.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 2.8
7. BATTLES ROAD
Darhl Foreman and Erminie Bartelmez have placed a scenic easement on 15 acres extending from the east bank of the river all the way to Battles Road.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 15.0
8. RIVER BEND
Following the current, one arrives at 26 acres extending from the riverbank to Saddleback Lane. A conservation easement, shared with Western Reserve Land Conservancy, has been granted by Brent and Patrice Clapacs.
Group: Conservation Easement Co-Held
Acres: 26.1
9. NORTHEAST RIVER BANK
At the north border of the Village, Dan and Rindy Collister have protected over a half mile of riverbank by preserving their 24 acres.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 24.1
10. THE ELIZABETH WADE SEDGEWICK PROPERTY
Stretching above Berkshire Road are 14 acres on which Elizabeth Wade Sedgwick has given the Conservancy an easement stipulating that only one house may exist on this property.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 14.0
11. SMITH WOODS
Shortly after the Conservancy was formed Thelma Smith made a gift of 19 priceless acres of hillside with the restriction that it could never be broken into smaller parcels and built upon. This gift topped off her lifetime of service to the Village.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 19.3
12. JONES RAVINE
Extending east from the top of Berkshire Road are 6.5 acres of beautiful wild land known as "The Point." Once part of the property of Mrs. W.P. Jones, it was her gift to the Conservancy, a gift of both geological and natural beauty.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 6.5
13. GRIESINGER POINT
Bobby Griesinger, sister of Mrs. Jones, contributed 7 acres of adjacent land, which leads directly down the gorge and is part of "The Point" property. Again, this land is of priceless beauty.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 6.9
14. MAYFIELD RAVINE
Across the valley on the eastern rise of Mayfield Road a ravine of eleven scenic acres was purchased through generous gifts from neighboring property owners plus GMLC funds.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 11.0
15. GLEN ECHO LANE AND MAYFIELD ROAD
Associated with the above purchase, scenic easements were added to this beautiful tract by the Thomas Jeckering, Richard Shields, and Ron Leivik families.
Group: Deed restricted
Acres: 6.8
16. THE ROBERT AND JANE CLARK PROPERTY
Further north on Sherman Road are 48-acres of untouched old growth forest, providing a continuous woodland viewscape and meaningful connections with other large properties. Bob and Jane Clark agreed to limit future development to 5 house sites.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 48.7
17. RIVER OAK SLOPES
Central to this area of the valley is a 25-acre parcel that is owned by the Conservancy. The Trustees believe that this land, which climbs eastward from the end of River Oaks Trail, is most unique and is a jewel in the Village's emerald crown.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 25.3
18. VILLAGE TRAILS
Crossing to the western valley slope are 100 acres of hillside that GMLC attempted to acquire in the early 1990's. The land was lost to a developer, but with a second effort the Conservancy worked out a scenic easement with the developer, which resulted in more than 20 acres of hillside being preserved.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 20.3
19. BEECHER'S BROOK
In 2005, with the support of the Cleveland Metroparks, Mayfield Village, Gates Mills Village, and Clean Ohio Funds, GMLC purchased 10 acres on the banks of Beecher's Brook. This Land, which provides a leafy welcome to the Buckeye Trail, was transferred to Metroparks and a perpetual conservation easement has been placed upon it.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 9.8
20. RIVER ROAD EAST
Bordering River Road at Mayfield Road this 6.6-acre parcel was purchased to preserve meadow, hillside and wetland.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 6.6
21. THE CHARLES AND KAY MLAKAR PROPERTY
Immediately to the south of River Road East are 20 acres of conservation easement established by Chuck and Kay Mlakar.
Group: Deed Restricted
Acres: 20.0
22. RIVER ROAD WEST
On the west side of River Road, just south of Mayfield Road, GMLC owns almost 9 acres that augment Metropark owned river frontage. These combined properties provide habitat for all types of birds and other wildlife.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres 8.8
23. THE ELIZABETH K. HOLMES PROPERTY
Further south on River Road, Elizabeth K. Holmes has given the Conservancy a scenic easement on 3.5 acres of woods and wetlands. Just across Beverly Lane the Buckeye Trail passes the 20-acre Wick Family tract that was mentioned in our trip down river (#2 Wick Woods at River's Edge).
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 3.5
24. SOUTHGATE
Near the border with Hunting Valley, GMLC owns 3 acres of hillside, woods, and wetlands, strategically providing the Buckeye Trail a "green" exit from the Village.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 3.0
25. WESTERN WOODS
These 17 acres were recently protected through funding of the neighboring property owners, the Village, GMLC, and Clean Ohio Funds. This land is an enhancement to all the properties around it, and woods it shall remain through conservation easements.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 17.0
26. SOLTZ WOODS
Also on Gates Mills Blvd. are 14 acres of undeveloped land given to the Conservancy by Margery Soltz as its first gift of real estate. This wooded land, through which the Cleveland and Eastern Railway once ran, had been planned for housing development.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 14.1
27. WESTGATE
Just across Mayfield Road, on the west border of the Village, is a 1.2-acre parcel of densely wooded land.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 1.2
28. WOODSTOCK WOODS
On Woodstock Road are 10 acres of beech and maple bisected by a winding stream. Some of these trees are well over 200 years old. This tract and the Mayfield property (#27) were acquired in exchange for 3.4 acres traded to the Village in 1999.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 10.0
29. EPPING ROAD AND BEVERLY HOLLIS LAND
"Truly stately" describes the trees on 5 acres of Conservancy owned woodland on Epping Road.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 5.0
30. EAST SLOPES
On the east slope overlooking the river are 2.5 acres of woods that delight the eye every autumn.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 2.5
31. FOX HILL CIRCLE
On Fox Hill Drive, six neighbors banded together and contributed $136,000 to buy 5.1 acres looking north over hilly woodlands. They then preserved the land by donating it to the Conservancy, which had contributed the balance of the funds required for purchase.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 5.1
32. SHERMAN WOODS
On the south side of Sherman road are 12 treed acres originally destined for development. This purchase was made possible by gifts from neighboring landowners and augmented by Conservancy funds.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 12.0.
33. THE LEVENSON PROPERTY
At the very north end of the Village, Dr. Myron Levenson granted the Conservancy a similar easement on 5 acres of his land in memory of his wife Cyrille.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 5.0
34. THE RILEY PROPERTY
Adjacent to the Levenson property, Kevin and Laurie Riley have granted a scenic easement on more than 7 acres of beautiful woodlands.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 7.7
35. AND 36. THE MACLAREN PROPERTY
At the northern end of West Hill Drive is a unique area that was originally the 45-acre Kulas estate. David McLaren purchased the land. After renovating the original mansion, he subdivided the surrounding property, but placed scenic easements on 12 acres, thus limiting future development.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 16.4
37. THE SCOVIL PROPERTY
Another conservation easement was granted on six acres of Alexander and Katharine Scovil's West Hill property.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 6.0
38. WICK WOODS AT RIVER'S EDGE
A second gift from the Wick Family is the placing of a conservation easement on 27 acres between Beverly Hollis Lane and Berkshire Road. This easement limits dwellings on this land to only three and is held jointly with Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
Group: Conservation Easement Co-Held
Acres: 27.6
39. CHAGRIN AND MAYFIELD
There's a little more than two acres on Mayfield Road that is governed by conservative restrictions.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 2.0
40. THE BALDWIN FAMILY ESTATE PROPERTY
In conjunction with the Baldwin Family Estate and our Village, 79 acres on the wooded slope of Carpenter Road and down to the banks of the Chagrin River has been protected by a conservation easement.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 79
41. BRIGHAM ROAD
Two lots on Brigham Road totaling five and a half acres have been protected, one by conservation easement and one by Conservancy purchase.
Group: Conservation Easement and Fee Owned
Acres: 5.5
42. POLO FIELD
In agreement with the Village, the 25-acre Polo Field, our town jewel, has now been covered by a conservation easement.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 25.0
43. THE QUINTRELL FAMILY PROPERTY
The Thomas Quintrell Family has placed a protective easement upon its nearly 18-acre property, which has a commanding view of our valley.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 17.8
44. THE LENTZ PROPERTY
Purchase of 11 acres of the Lentz Property on the eastern bank of the Chagrin River has been negotiated.
Group:Fee Owned
Acres: 10.9
45. SHERMAN ROAD PRESERVE
Thirty-eight acres, comprising 11 building sites, has been purchased with the assistance of Western Reserve Land Conservancy and the support of Clean Ohio Funds. Hickory Nut Farm LTD donated and additional 3 acres of contiguous property to make a 41-acre preserve.
Group: Fee Owned Property
Acres: 41.0
46. EVELYN NEWELL PROPERTY
Evelyn Newell has granted a conservation easement on her 51-acre estate on County Line Road. This property is adjacent to the 41-acre Sherman Road Preserve; the total 92 acres represents the largest plot of land preserved in our Village.
Group: Conservation Easement Co-held
Acres: 51.0
47. THE REITMAN PROPERTY
Bob Reitman placed conservation easement on five plus acres of his property.
Group: Conservation Easement
Acres: 5.0
48. MAYFIELD AND CARPENTER
Working in consort with the Village, 9.5 acres of very "visible" land on Mayfield Road is now covered by Conservancy ownership and easement.
Group: Fee Owned
Acres: 9.5