The Canton Water Department calls on locals to voice their opinions on the upcoming Cromer Water Reservoir Replacement Project, which promises to balance historical preservation with necessary infrastructure upgrades. Set for May 28 at 1:00 p.m., the public meeting will be held at the Water Department's headquarters at 2664 Harrisburg Road N.E.. It will dive into the project's impact on the reservoir, which was recently recognized for its eligibility to join the National Register of Historic Places.
Superintendent Tyler Converse emphasized the department's commitment to the city's heritage in a statement via the City of Canton website, "We value the community’s input as we move forward with this important infrastructure project," and acknowledging the dual nature of their mission, "Preserving Canton’s history while investing in our future is a responsibility we take very seriously." This town landmark stands as a testament to history and engineering, and its forthcoming replacement raises questions about honoring the past while accommodating the demands of a modern water system.
City officials are not acting alone but in conjunction with the Ohio EPA and the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office to craft a Memorandum of Understanding; this agreement aims to safeguard the reservoir's storied aesthetic and structural essence, a bridge between generations that will be documented as part of these modern developments. This MOU will be a key topic during the meeting, where civilians are welcome to present their thoughts and concerns on how the replacement will proceed.
