The Krejci Dump operated as a salvage yard and waste disposal facility in Boston Township, Ohio from 1948 to 1980. It received solid and hazardous wastes from nearby cities, towns, and scores of companies. At the time, dumps were largely unregulated. Toxic materials were buried in unlined pits and allowed to seep unchecked into the environment.

In 1985, Cuyahoga Valley National Park acquired the property and soon realized the scale of the pollution. The level of contamination qualified the site under the Superfund law. Numerous major corporations were discovered to have disposed industrial waste at the site, including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Chrysler, 3M, Chevron, and others. Under the Superfund law, parties that disposed hazardous materials at the site were liable for the costs of investigating and cleaning up contamination.

The decades-long effort set a legal precedent that cleaned up Krejci as well as other National Park Service (NPS) sites around the county. Ultimately, the responsible parties paid more than $50 million to remove the toxins and restore the property. NPS certified the work as completed in December 2020.

Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal.

Warning: All areas of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park are prone to deer ticks from the early spring until late fall, so prepare accordingly before birding.

Restrooms at locations identified on Cuyahoga Valley National Park map. Most areas have non-flush toilets; there are flush toilets available at the Pine Hollow parking lot on Quick Road and the Virginia Kendall Lake lodge building.