Rosemont Preserve: Balancing Urban Stream Restoration with New Development
Katherine G. Holmok
Kimely-Horn
Akron, OH
Ernie Staten
City of Fairlawn, OH
The Rosemont Preserve exemplifies a proactive, long-term conservation and flood control project led by the City of Fairlawn. When the century-old Rosemont Country Club Golf Course closed due to declining membership and revenue, the City seized the unique chance to enhance regional watershed improvements within the Pigeon Creek watershed, while also integrating passive recreation and creating new neighborhoods.
After a detailed cost-benefit analysis of full preservation versus combined development and preservation of the course, the City collaborated with the property owner and developers to protect and restore aquatic habitat corridors, while also creating manageable areas for residential and mixed-use development. To achieve this vision, the City established a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district, secured over $2.85 million in grant funds, conducted public outreach, to protect and restore over 54 acres within the former golf course.
The site, draining 5.58 square miles—larger than Fairlawn itself—includes lands developed before comprehensive stormwater regulations, resulting in untreated runoff and degraded streams. To address these legacy impacts, the project will construct ten new wetlands, restore 7.25 acres of wetland habitat and provide 8.5 acre-feet of floodplain storage.
A key element is the transformation of a degraded stretch of Schocalog Run, which had been piped, dammed, and ditched for over a century, into a functioning warm-water stream and floodplain system. The restoration includes 6,708 linear feet of enhanced stream channel, woody debris structures, alluvial riffles, and over 4,000 native plantings. Upon completion, the Rosemont Preserve will tie into other City-owned land and dedicated easements to form a continuous 186-acre natural corridor along Schocalog Run.
Through these efforts, the City of Fairlawn is creating a legacy project that restores natural hydrology, improves water quality, and enhances habitat diversity. The Rosemont Preserve offers residents new opportunities for passive recreation and environmental connection, serving as a regional model for balancing urban development with sustainable watershed restoration. By integrating science, design, and community engagement, the Rosemont Preserve showcases a replicable model for urban watershed restoration, enhancing environmental resilience while providing lasting public and ecological benefits.
About Katherine G. Holmok
Katherine is a Surface Water Professional focused on developing natural resource solutions for water quality and quantity that are beautiful, functional, and publicly cherished. She has planned and designed over 400 acres of wetland and 11,750 linear feet of stream restoration projects in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Many of her projects include grants, complex hydrology, dam removals, dredging, and complex landscape ecology. Katherine has secured over $29 million in local, regional, and national grants for stormwater, transportation, parks, energy, and economic development projects, including funding from FEMA, SS4A, and the U.S. EPA. She is known for her ability to guide projects from concept to long-term management and for building creative, cross-sector partnerships with long term stewardship. She also teaches Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Case Western Reserve University in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.
About Ernie Staten
Ernie Staten is the Director of Public Service for the City of Fairlawn, Ohio, where he oversees the City’s infrastructure, right-of-way management, and delivery of public services. With more than 29 years in local government, Ernie serves as the City’s liaison for utilities, including stormwater, sanitary sewer, water, and other public systems. Under his leadership, Fairlawn’s Service Department maintains 55 miles of roadway, four public parks, and operates the City’s residential compactor and recycling program, which serves 85% of residents. Staten has been instrumental in the planning, construction, operation and promotion of FairlawnGig Internet fiber service, the city’s municipal broadband utility. Ernie’s focus on sustainability, safety, and service delivery continues to shape Fairlawn’s reputation as a well-managed and environmentally responsible community.