Cleveland opens new park in Hough

• The project, led by the Western Reserve Land Conservancy with extensive input from residents, transforms a long-vacant school site into a community anchor with more than 120 new trees, a pavilion, two playgrounds and accessible walkways.

Flashback: The property was formerly the site of the John W. Raper Elementary School, which closed in 2011 and then was demolished.

• The property sat vacant until 2021, when CMSD and the city of Cleveland issued a request for proposals to redevelop surplus school sites.

What they're saying: Cleveland City Councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones emphasized at Friday's ceremony how valuable beautiful outdoor spaces are for communities.

• "It calms your spirit. It calms your nerves. We know that not everyone has access to health care, but there is something that the outdoors and Mother Nature provides."

🌳 Between the leaves: Among the 120-plus trees at the site are nine along the paved walking path that represent the U.S. Supreme Court justices.

• The first of them, at the entrance of the park, is a purple redbud that represents Marshall himself, the first Black Supreme Court justice.