We, the Friends of Crowell Hilaka, believe now, more than ever, all people need a quiet place to connect with nature in our complicated world. Ohio’s Hidden Treasure™, Richfield Heritage Preserve, provides that experience. We value engaging the community through actions taken by volunteers with diverse interests and backgrounds. These include outdoor recreation, land stewardship, the arts, science
s and cultural, educational, and historic programs. We advocate for the beautiful historic structures throughout the park. Because they are a part of our shared heritage, we urge that they should be preserved so they can be utilized to the fullest extent possible to enrich the community. We support Richfield Heritage Preserve by collaborating with the park board and other important park partnerships. We help ensure, sustain, and renew, both its natural and historic resources. Our current projects include Kirby’s Mill restoration, historic structure stabilization and native habitat restoration. Join us in honoring the past, enjoying the present and exploring the future. DISCOVER Ohio's Hidden Treasure ™ Richfield Heritage Preserve
We are a 501 c3 non-profit group serving the community and we collaborate with the Richfield Heritage Preserve, a public park and now a historic district. We believe that now, more than ever, all children and adults need a place to learn what nature is, to learn to become good stewards of the land, to find and value quiet reflection, to make friends face to face. Now, more than ever, we need to cherish these natural places in the face of ever expanding technology. We believe program elements on this land of ours should be expanded to include leadership opportunities, the arts, sciences, engineering, sports, cultural events, and life skills, while retaining the traditional goals of individual growth and exploration in a natural setting. We believe that the beautiful, historic structures in the camp are part of our shared heritage. They have an important role in inciting the imagination and promoting the dignity of the all who use them. We wholeheartedly subscribe to author Richard Louv's call to reconnect our society to nature. Crowell Hilaka will provide a natural setting for Ohioians to get out into nature, thereby decreasing what Louv terms "nature-deficit disorder". FoCH is delighted that the Richfield Joint Recreation District has been formed to conserve the land. Although we recognize that the type of use, the look, and even the name “Crowell Hilaka” may change, we believe that the volunteers of FoCH will continue to have a role as the land enters the next era in its wonderful and unique history.
About our name change Effective January 1, 2022, Friends of Crowell Hilaka (FoCH) began using "Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve" (Friends) as our primary name, although we retain ownership of our old name. . While our name may be changing, our mission and passion remain the same. We’ve been on a 10+ year journey---beginning with our initial efforts to help save this awesome and historically significant 336-acre property from being sold by the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio for possible development. Along the way, we’ve worked with a broad variety of volunteer partners---including community members, government officials, professionals, other non-profit organizations, and you---to fulfill our dreams and accomplish our goals. We couldn’t have done any of this without all of you!
