1905  William Stinchcomb writes, "I want to suggest the advisability of ultimately establishing an outer system of parks and boulevards."

1910        Cleveland is the nation's sixth largest city. Residential development is pushing beyond the city limits.

1911          West side business interests promote idea of preserving Rocky River Valley.

1912          Judge Alexander Hadden appoints a county park board.

1915 Harry Farnsworth, park board chairman, proposes joining "huge strips of land" to make "a great 40 mile sweep of boulevard."

1916          William Stinchcomb prepares the first park plan.

1917          March 6, 1917: Ohio General Assembly passes bill providing for "the conservation of natural resources by the creation, development and improvement of park districts."

1920s The park board acquires 9,000 acres in nine reservations, putting it at the forefront of the county park movement.

1921          William Stinchcomb is appointed as first director-secretary of the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District.

1922          The park board begins reforestation of Rocky River Valley and clears the first hiking trails in Rocky River, Brecksville and Bedford reservations.

1922          Social worker George Bellamy testifies, "Forest recreation has an important effect on the health of the children of Cleveland."

1926          Golfers jam "Big Met", the west side's first public links.

1926          The Park District begins construction of a dam across the west branch of the Rocky River to create Hinckley Lake.

1929          The Ohio Supreme Court upholds the Park District's right to levy taxes and spend money.

1930          Cleveland Museum of Natural History assigns Arthur B. Williams as the first park naturalist.

1930s Federal work-relief projects sweep park development forward, CCC camps are established in Euclid Creek and Brecksville reservations.

1931          July 4, 1930: The first trailside museum opens in North Chagrin Reservation.

1934          Trailside museum attendance exceeds 34,000.

1936          5,000 men are at work in the metropolitan parks, building roads, trails, shelterhouses and other improvements.

1936          A second trailside museum opens in Rocky River Reservation

1938          Look About Lodge, headquarters of the Cleveland Natural Science Club, opens in South Chagrin Reservation.

1939          A third trailside museum opens in Brecksville Reservation.

1939          The park levy passes, despite hard economic times.

1939          Park assets include 55 miles of roads, 60 miles of bridle paths, 53 miles of hiking trails and 33 picnic grounds.

1940s The park board turns its attention to completing the "Emerald Necklace".

1940s Wartime labor shortages open employment opportunities in the parks to women.

1943          Gates Mills Council says "no" to a parkway through the village connecting North and South Chagrin reservations.

1950          The Park District holds title to 13,000 acres of parkland.

1950s William Stinchcomb battles stream pollution and highway encroachment.

1950s The Park District braces for suburban population explosion.

1951          July 1951: 7,000 bathers jam Wallace Lake.

1954          The Park District establishes a new department of education and names Harold E. Wallin as park naturalist.

1957          William Stinchcomb resigns; Harold W. Groth is appointed to succeed him.

1958          The ranks of park police expand to counter increasing vandalism.

1960s Following a court order, Manakiki and Sleepy Hollow golf courses open to public play.

1960s Parks Director Groth fights "to keep the parks from being eroded" by outside interests.

1961          The Regional Planning Commission calls for the addition of new parkland to meet the recreation needs of Greater Cleveland.

1962          Bradley Woods Reservation opens. The Park District now holds title to 16,000 acres of parkland.

1970          March 26, 1070: The Park District assumes ownership of Cleveland Zoo.

1971          The Trailside Interpretive Center opens in Rocky River Reservation.

1974          Harold Schick is named director.

1976          Mill Stream Run Reservation opens.

1980          Lou E. Tsipis is named director.

1986          The Park District leases Garfield Park from the city of Cleveland and embarks on extensive renovation.

1988          Vern J. Hartenburg is named director.

1992          Cleveland Metroparks prepares a master plan to guide future decision making.

1999          The Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation opens, extending the towpath trail to Old Harvard Rd.

2003          Washington Park opens and First Tee of Cleveland is begun. The Park District now includes over 20,000 acres of parkland.

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