Virginia Kendall Park: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Regions 3, 4, & 5 Park Cultural Landscapes Program

Virginia Kendall State Park Historic District, a component landscape of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, is a rural area located between the urban centers of Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. It covers 530 acres of rolling hills situated above the Cuyahoga River Valley. The landscape consists of four components: Kendall Lake area, Octagon Shelter area, Ledges Shelter area, and Happy Days Camp. The site was incorporated into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in 1974, and the Historic District was entered in the National Register of Historic Places on January 2, 1997. The period of significance for Virginia Kendall Park begins in 1933 with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) era of construction and continues through 1944, encompassing national trends in recreation that emerged before the end of World War II. The landscape is a significant example of Naturalistic style in landscape design and the Rustic style in architecture, utilizing the designs of architect Albert H. Good and landscape architect Harold S. Wagner. It is also notable for associations with events that have contributed to the broad pattern of our history. Developed as a CCC project and campsite, the district represents government policies and periods of public works oriented toward the betterment of society and associated with the development of recreational areas. CCC workers began at the Virginia Kendall camp in 1933, undertaking projects such as road grading, stone cutting, and construction. Despite sometimes challenging conditions, the camp provided opportunities in recreation, education, and community in addition to employment. The CCC projects reflect the wider national interest towards recreation in the natural environment, contributing to the creation of facilities such as the man-made lake and beach, toboggan chutes, overlooks, picnic grounds, and hiking trails. The overall design inspiration draws upon naturalistic design, in which buildings utilize native materials and are intended to be viewed as elements of the landscape rather than merely structures within a landscape. Structures and features of the landscape include the Kendall Lake Bath House, eight-sided Octagon Shelter, Ledges Steps, Happy Days Lodge, comfort stations, privies, and utility buildings. The Virginia Kendall State Park Historic District uniquely conveys concurrent developments in recreation, CCC public works projects, and the associated architecture. The significance of the historic district is further enhanced by the site's high level of integrity. Since the National Park Service's acquisition, only minor alterations have been made to the structures and the landscape.

Virginia Kendall Park: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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