On Sunday, June 29, 2008 the National Park Service and Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association honored Congressman Ralph S. Regula for his extraordinary contributions to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Over fifty visitors attended the invitation-only event at the Founders Wayside in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The National Park Service developed three wayside exhibits describing the role that Congressman Regula played in the development of the park and the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway over the last thirty years.
At the event Congressman Regula was presented the prestigious Honorary Park Ranger Award by Chief of Staff Sue Masica of the National Park Service. The award includes the distinctive park ranger hat. Masica also presented Regula with a framed collage honoring Regula’s role in passing legislation that allows fees collected in units of the National Park System to be used to fund maintenance and other park needs.
"Two individuals will forever stand out in the history of Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Congressman John Seiberling for his vision and legislative campaign leading to Congressional authorization of the park in 1974, and Congressman Ralph Regula, for his incredible record of success in obtaining federal funding for land acquisition, development, and operation of the park throughout the duration of his 36 years in Congress. John Seiberling conceived the park dream, and Ralph Regula ensured the dream would be realized," said John P. Debo, Jr. Superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
"I want everyone in America to have open space available to them. It is a place where you can be restored," Regula said in his remarks during the event.
The Founders Wayside depicts the seminal role of congressional champions John F. Seiberling and Ralph S. Regula in the founding and development of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is located on land owned by Metro Parks, Serving Summit County near the Everett Road Covered Bridge Trailhead, ½ mile west of Riverview Road in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
