What does Independence, Ohio have to offer?
That is the main question the students in the Historical, Cultural, & Community Resources Committee sought to answer. These students found and presented vital information regarding existing conditions of both the city and the Quarry property.
The information gathered by this group offered crucial insight:
What is currently available in the neighborhood is important to acknowledge for future development. This group created a comprehensive report on what is available with regards to historical assets, cultural assets, community resources, and neighborhood amenities.
This group also examined the history of the site and how that history can be told within the site. This property has a rich past, both from an Indigenous perspective and an Industrial perspective. They proposed the “Heritage Loop Trail” that will tell the story of the Haydite Quarry from the very beginning.
This group created visual material for the final proposals. They created mock-ups of the site based off of the recommendations from the Community Engagement team and presented these ideas to not only stakeholders but also the class. These materials were key for seeing what this area could look like post-development.
Meet the Historical, Cultural, & Community Resources Committee
Paige Ray is a Master of Urban Planning and Development student who would like to work in small planning team that works cross-disciplinarily with architects and landscape architects. She was responsible for map creation and leading discussion on deliverables throughout the project. She thoroughly enjoys design.
Kaden Knake is a Master of Nonprofit Management Student also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Sustainability, with a strong foundation in Environmental Studies. Kaden is passionate about advancing sustainability and conservation efforts, they are committed to utilizing nonprofit leadership and civic engagement to create meaningful environmental impact.
Maiya Sack is a Master of Public Administration student graduating in December of 2026. She is currently working as the Water Quality Intern at NOACA. As a part of the Historic, Environmental, Cultural, and Social Resources Committee, Maiya was tasked with researching the project site’s watershed, identifying development implications from water conditions, recommending water quality best practices, and planning active uses of the site.
Jason Steele is a Master of Urban Planning student completing his degree in July 2026. He worked as a professional graphic designer before changing careers to focus on increasing equitable access to natural spaces, and currently works improving the City of Brunswick’s parks and green spaces. As part of the Historic, Environmental, Cultural, and Social Resources team, Jason helped highlight the site’s environmental benefits as well as its active travel connections to the community. He is a former bicycle road racer, has hiked trails around the world, and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
