RESTORING DARROW ROAD PARK STREAM IN HUDSON

Pre-restoration project ditch highlighting the straight and deepened channel.
One of newly constructed meanders that will decrease flow speed, increase water storage, and provide habitat.

Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners was awarded a $250,000 Ohio EPA Section 319 grant, with matching funds from the City, to restore and permanently protect riparian habitat and wetlands in an important headwaters area of Tinker’s Creek. This project will treat invasive species, install native plants, and improve stormwater function, making the site more resilient and diverse for the future.

EnviroScience, Inc., alongside RiverReach Construction and GPD Group, is leading the Darrow Road Stream Restoration Project’s design-build team. Known locally as Darrow Road Park Ditch, this stream has long faced challenges due to its straight, deep channel—caused by historic dredging and sediment buildup—which has altered the natural flow and reduced its connection to the floodplain. Over time, these changes have led to increased erosion, reduced water quality, and loss of habitat for fish and wildlife.

The Darrow Road Stream Restoration Project will bring the stream back to life by:

  • Creating meanders and gentle bends to reconnect the stream to its floodplain
  • Restoring natural features such as riffles and pools to support aquatic life
  • Managing invasive plants and installing native species to stabilize streambanks and enhance wetlands
  • Improving stormwater filtering to protect water quality downstream

With construction nearly complete, Darrow Road Park is already beginning to showcase a healthier, more resilient stream and wetlands that will support thriving ecosystems and enhance the park’s natural beauty for the community to enjoy.

This project represents an important step forward in TCWP’s mission to restore habitats and water quality across the watershed. By protecting this headwaters site from development, we are ensuring it remains a valuable public resource for generations to come. We are excited about the opportunity to put this project on the ground with great partners in the City of Hudson, the Ohio EPA, and Friends of Hudson Parks.

Learn more about the project HERE and follow updates at EnviroScience Darrow Road Park Stream Restoration Blog.