In March of 2021, Cleveland City Council voted unanimously to trade away 45% of the land at Cudell Commons Park to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, calling it “surplus property.” The City got prime Detroit-Shoreway real estate in return which they are giving away to a developer for FREE for a commercial housing project. The public was not notified of this swap nor given any opportunity to oppose it before it was passed by Council at the height of the pandemic.
Last September, members of the Friends of Cudell Commons Park group were granted a temporary restraining order preventing CMSD from proceeding with the construction of a new Marion-Seltzer Elementary school on what is now Cudell Commons Park. CMSD’s plans would result in the loss of significant greenspace at the park, the basketball courts in the northeastern corner of the park, and the destruction of 40 mature trees.
After hearing two days of testimony including closing arguments regarding our request for a preliminary injunction, Judge Nancy Russo recused herself from the case, citing a conflict of interest. The case was reassigned to Judge Ashley Kilbane who ruled against the preliminary injunction and vacated the TRO, saying in part, "Plaintiffs claims of harm only discuss the removal of trees, and mature trees; but they do not address how they would still be irreparably harmed after new trees are planted and grow into mature trees." This type of illogical reasoning is exactly why Cleveland continues to lose its tree canopy at an alarming rate.
The Friends of Cudell Commons Park are not giving up! We will continue to fight this injustice but need the community’s help - the only way to win this David vs. Goliath battle is for everyone to join together, raise our voices, and let the City and CMSD know that Cudell Park is NOT surplus property and we will not rest until it is saved.