CLEVELAND — Jamie Brazier and Anne Armstrong, long-time residents in Cleveland’s Cudell neighborhood, often spend time at Cudell Park — which they say is the only green space in their area.
“I live a few blocks away off of Detroit,” Armstrong said. “And this has just been kind of a green oasis for my family and also my dog.”
Marion Seltzer Elementary School sits in the park’s corner, near a playground and a memorial for Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old child who was shot and killed by Cleveland Police there in 2015.
Children and other residents often spend time in the park — playing, convening or just enjoying the shade of one its many mature trees.
“We’re a good little community, and the neighbors that know each other are very close and loving to each other too,” Brazier said.
In 2019, Cleveland Metropolitan School District announced plans to build a new school building on the park — citing changing population patterns and poor conditions in the old building.
CMSD leaders hired a consulting firm to seek community input for the new build, but the pandemic slowed things down.
When the plan for the new building was released in 2022, Brazier said the community’s feedback was not represented.
“It extended almost to Detroit road, taking out these legacy trees and the entire park,” Brazier said.
In addition to the loss of tree canopy and green space, community members, including Tamir’s mother, Samaria Rice, were concerned that the new building would obstruct the view of Tamir’s memorial.
“A lot of the community members had been consulted years ago, pre-COVID,” Armstrong said. “So, they were waiting for updates, but the updates never came.”
The community soon began mobilizing to share their concerns with the district, but said they were told it was too late.
This kicked off a long fight that involved a restraining order on school construction, community meetings, rallies and more.
“I think what I what I care about is that a community has input, a community has a voice, a community is informed,” Armstrong said.
CEO of Cleveland’s school district, Dr. Warren Morgan, walked into the job as this fight was already underway.
He said the students in the neighborhood need a new school, but he understands the community’s concerns.
“I also want to make sure when we do it this time, we’re clear in what we’re doing because there was a process before,” Morgan said. “The district has done this. And with any process, not every one is going to be happy, but I do want to make sure we’re honoring that and can move forward because our kids cannot wait.”
At this point, the district has decided to pause their old plans and go back to the community for input again.
“Right now, it’s not about the district putting forth the plan, we need to hear from the community and for all the stakeholders to come together and say what is the best path forward,” Morgan said.
For residents like Brazier and Armstrong, it’s a relief to know the district is willing to listen, but there’s still some frustration about how much they had to go through to get a seat at the table.
“This is what we wanted to begin with was to sit down at the table together,” Armstrong said. “And so we're finally getting that, which is fantastic. It came at a very high cost, not only money for the city, the taxpayers, but also time and just a lot of kind of, you know, unnecessary tension.”
Frank Cudell, a renowned Cleveland architect and inventor from the late 19th century, gifted the park to the City of Cleveland in 1905.