Solar Projects in the Parks- Stony Creek Metropark Paddle Shack

September 3, 2025

By: Erin Parker, Interpretive Services Supervisor

During the late spring of 2025, your Metroparks started a new pilot project that reduced noise, reliance on fossil fuel, and the need to run a generator for 10+ hours a day. The Paddleshack at Eastwood Beach – where kayak and paddleboard rentals take place- was converted to solar.

According to Stony Creek Park Operations Manager Steve Sebert, the main goal of going solar was to eliminate the labor-intensive use of running a generator 10 hours a day.

He shared that:  “Between daily refueling and weekly oil changes, it is a lot of work operating a generator 70 hours a week.  The second goal was to eliminate noise pollution.  Environments such as the Eastwood Beach shoreline should be filled with peace and serenity as much as possible.”

Before the project launched, staff needed to understand the electricity needs of the building and develop a plan to make sure that the solar project could meet or exceed the daily electricity demands.

Sebert shared that; “Having an expert on the technical side of things is key.  Stony Creek Metropark Buildings Supervisor, Ryan Lark, did a wonderful job in quantifying our electricity needs, then worked with his staff to get the technical components installed.  His staff was also able to build a battery housing cabinet that fit right into the design of the existing Paddleshack. It was important to us that the beach aesthetics were maintained.”

The project didn’t just have noise, climate, and labor benefits. Financially it made sense, too.  Estimates to supply electricity to the building during the busy summer months were around $30,000 versus the $3,000 that was needed to convert it to solar. This pilot project helped Metroparks make progress towards their Climate Action Plan Goals as well.

And the staff is pleased with the results.

“We are very happy with the functionality.  We now always have power to our computer systems, meaning there is not slow boot-up times in the morning.  We no longer need our staff to know how to properly operate the generator and physically handle the generator as a job requirement to be placed at Paddleshack.  Best of all, we have now proven we can harness enough power via solar to expand our point-of-sale system to two stations if we’d like and will ultimately need,” Sebert said.

With the success of this solar project, the Metroparks are considering other solar conversions in areas where running a generator or electricity would pose a challenge and where solar might meet those needs well.

Sebert concluded; “This project will hopefully lead to solving electrical needs at other areas, most notably our Disc Golf Building and our fourth tollbooth at the park entrance.”