AKRON, Ohio — Summit Metro Parks’ work in restoring the natural habitat of the Valley View Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park will be explored in CNN International’s environmental series “Call to Earth.”

The episode, planned to air Thursday, Aug. 17, will shine a spotlight on Summit Metro Parks’ exceptional efforts in returning the former golf course to its natural state, while fostering a connection between the environment and the local community, Summit Metro Parks said in a release.

This year, “Call to Earth” is focused on sustainable land management and environmental education in urban settings, Summit Metro Parks said.

What You Need To Know

  • CNN International’s “Call to Earth” series will feature Summit Metro Parks’ restoration of the Valley View Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park

  • The episode, planned to air Thursday, Aug. 17, will feature Summit Metro Parks’ exceptional efforts in returning the former golf course to its natural state

  • Summit Metro Parks Executive Director Lisa King and Chief of Conservation Mike Johnson are featured in the episode

  • This year, “Call to Earth” is focused on sustainable land management and environmental education in urban settings

Summit Metro Parks Executive Director Lisa King and Chief of Conservation Mike Johnson are featured in the episode, as they explain some of the innovative strategies deployed in the restoration process of the Valley View Area.

 “This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to conservation, education and connection to nature,” King said. “Our goal is to ignite a passion for nature and nurture environmental stewardship, and being showcased on a global platform allows us to amplify this message to a broader audience."

The episode also will take a close look at the history of the Valley View Area, its ecological significance and Summit Metro Parks’ collaboration with partners and the community.

During the restoration, Metro Parks biologists excavated 6-8 feet of material over six acres to recreate more than 60 acres of floodplain, Johnson said during the project. Floodplains help keep fish safe during heavy rainfall when the river is high and fast, and help reduce flooding in other areas.

To restore lost fish habitat, Johnson said the biologists also installed boulder clusters, placing huge rocks in the river to allow current to flow over them, creating “scour pools,” or hollows, to which fish are drawn.

Before the restoration began, biologists counted 226 fish per kilometer at one site in the river, which after the restoration leapt to 806 fish per kilometer, Metro Parks said. At another site, a count of 90 fish per kilometer jumped to 300 fish.

Although initially only eight different kinds of fish were present in the river, that number increased to 26 species after the restoration, Metro Parks said.

The “Call to Earth” episode that features Summit Metro Parks the Valley View Area will air on CNN International during the Quest Means Business program at 3 p.m. on Thursday. The show is also available to view online.

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