Medina's Tank Testing Ground

In the midst of the Cold War, America was ramping up their military strength. Part of the that buildup was producing bigger, faster, better tanks. And what is now known as the IX Center, was in the 1950's, the site of the GM Cadillac Tank Plant, charged with building M41 Walker Bulldog tank.

M41 Walker Bulldog Tank built at the Cadillac Tank Plant 1951-1954.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. 

While the tank was under production, GM needed a place to test the tanks that would reflect the rough areas they would need to travel during war conditions. An area near the Hinckley-West Richfield border was just what the company needed.

In February 1951, Cadillac announced that the location, just off State Route 303, was ready for use and already had a tank on site. Called the Cadillac Ordnance Proving Ground, the site had everything needed to give the tanks a good work out: hilly terrain, deep ravines, switchbacks, dense brush and water hazards. Two test courses were designed to replicate field conditions.

1958 Aerial Photograph depicting the Tank Proving Grounds.

The spring rains were particularly effective in testing the tanks', and the drivers', abilities to maneuver through the muddiest conditions, as illustrated in this photo from the April 30, 1954 edition of The Medina Gazette.

Medina Gazette,  April 30, 1954, page 1.

The Army ceased production of the Walker Bulldog in 1955. A few years later, GM Cadillac turned over the tank plant to its Allison Division. They produced the M-551 Sheridan tank until 1972.

Tank workers depicted in the December 3, 1965 newsletter for the Allison Division, called AllisoNews.

They continued to use the Proving Grounds near Hinckley until 1970.

AllisoNews photo of the proving grounds near Hinckley.

By December of 1970, the Army had abandoned the site. Hinckley and Richfield Township officials worked together to obtain the land. It took until 1978 for the federal government to donate the land for recreational use.

Named "Rising Valley Park", the two townships jointly operated the park from 1978 to 2005, when they decided to terminate the cooperative agreement. 44.7 acres went to Richfield and 188.3. acres became part of the Cleveland Metroparks.

Rising Valley Park in Richfield Township.

Rising Valley Park in Cleveland Metroparks.

You can almost see the outline of the old tank testing grounds in this Google image.

I see a field trip in my future!


SOURCES:
Aerial Photos - 1958- 1V- 169 in the Medina Franklin Sylvester Room Collection
AllisoNews Newsletter Vol. XXV, No. 12, 3 December 1965, pages 1-2.
Cleveland Metroparks - Rising Valley Park.
Google Maps
IX Center History
Medina County Gazette
      "Hinckley Interested in Cadillac Grounds", 1 December 1970, page 1.
      "Hinckley Park Dubbed Rising Valley", 13 April 1978, page 1.
      "Tanks Get Mud Baptisms Near Hinckley", 30 April 1954, page 1.
      "Test Tanks at Hinckley", 27 February, 1951, page 1.
Richfield Township - Rising Valley Park
"M41 Walker Bulldog Tank" Wikipedia