Prescribed fire sparks prairie restoration at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Firefighters ignite a first entry burn at the Richfield Coliseum site in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

NPS / Bob Trinnes

In mid-October 2022, a first-entry prescribed fire for prairie restoration at the old Richfield Coliseum site in Cuyahoga Valley National Park brought together partners from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the National Park Service (NPS), and local community. NPS staff came from New River Gorge National Park and the NPS Northeast Region joining a USFWS crew from New Jersey and the Richfield, Ohio fire department.

Since the site of the former Richfield Coliseum was added to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, it has become an important bird habitat and popular location for birders. The goals of prescribed fires at this location are to improve natural habitat, with specific focus on targeting invasive plant species, creating beneficial soil conditions for native seeds, and maintaining grassland bird habitats. The use of periodic fires is part of an overall long-term ecosystem management plan.