Outdoor Education Area Dedicated to Mayfield Superintendent

Superintendent Phillip Price, who will retire in July, was honored by the by naming and outdoor education area in his honor.

A sign marking the Phillip G. Price Prairie & Pathways was unveiled Monday at the Gates Mills Environmental Education Center. The project, which incorporates walking trails, wetlands and prairies was initiated by Price in 2011.

"This was his vision one year ago," said environmental education center teacher Ed Tuhela. "He showed me plans he had drawn up and I thought this looked really great. Then he asked me who could do this."

Tuhela said the project is part of the healing of the area, which was U.S. Coast Guard property until 1969 and had been cleared of trees. "Not one tree was here in 1969," he said, adding that there also was radioactive material.

With an outdoor classroom, prairie, wooded trails, a pond and rain garden, the environmental center reflects changes since the days when schools first offered horticulture classes.

"We have to incorporate environmental landscapes with horticlture," Tuhela said. "The kids who use this will be at the leading edge of what's going on."

Price said leaving the project to the district reminded him of his days as an Eagle Scout.

"Your whole goal is to leave your campsite better than you found it. That it really what this is about," Price said.