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Help Us Build the Trails You Love!
Whether you love running, nature, history, biking or other forms of fitness - please join us as members and supporters in building out the Towpath Trail. Let's maximize this local treasure along the Cuyahoga River.
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Help Us Build the Trails You Love!
Whether you love running, nature, history, biking or other forms of fitness - please join us as members and supporters in building out the Towpath Trail. Let's maximize this local treasure along the Cuyahoga River.
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On August 13th 2015, Canalway Partners teamed up with Hyland Software, BVU Volunteers, Sherwin Williams and Forest City for a large graffiti clean-up project in the Flats.
The clean-up was part of Hyland Software's annual "Summer of Service" program, which sent 300+ Hyland employees to volunteer project sites across Tremont. Sherwin Williams donated paint and supplies.
The wall covers a large area in the Flats, it is visible across the river from Columbus Road.
The Summer of Service team tackled several project across Tremont and the Flats, for example they gave the pedestrian bridge over 490 a great new look.
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On Thursday August 13th, The Cleveland Foundation, The Cleveland Metroparks, LAND Studio and the Trust for Public Land celebrated the opening of the first section of the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail.
The Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail, formerly known as the Lake Link Trail, is a Towpath connector trail. The trail currently takes cyclists and pedestrians from Scranton Flats to near Rivergate Park on Columbus Road. The Trail will eventually connect to Wendy Park.
The Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail utilizes two new bridges to cross Scranton Road and train tracks on its way from Scranton Road to Columbus Road.
The Trail opens up some cool new views of the city and connects the Towpath to recreation options such as Merwin's Wharf, the Crooked River Skatepark, the Cleveland Rowing Foundation and the future academic rowing center, the Foundry.
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It has been a while since we've checked in on the Innerbelt Bridge project- now called the George V. Voinovich Bridge. Since our last post, the first span has opened, the 1959 Bridge has been demolished in dramatic fashion, and the second span has made major progress.
How does the George V. Voinovich Bridge relate to the Towpath Trail Extension Project? As part of the project, ODOT is constructing a portion of Stage 4 of the Towpath. This piece will provide the connection between Tremont and Scranton Flats.
The Towpath construction is part of the Bridge Project's larger efforts to integrate with Tremont and Downtown. These efforts include public art, a Sideyard park in Tremont, scenic overlooks, plazas and parking. Soon, the bridge will be illuminated with color-variable LED lighting similar to that on the Terminal Tower.
The Bridge Project is also making interesting sustainability efforts, including innovative reuse of materials, creating Peregrine Falcon nests and eventually creating fish habitats on the north side of the Cuyahoga River.
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Canalway Partners recently met with National Park Service Director John Jarvis and Craig Kenkel, Superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park to discuss our successes and some of the challenges we have in developing the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area.
After seeing Scranton Flats at his Play, Learn, Serve and Work announcement, the Director was interested in seeing more of the Towpath Trail Extension Project. We gave him a tour of Stage 4in Tremont, and the Canal Basin Park site in the Flats.
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| Touring Stage 4 of the Towpath Trail Extension |
Director Jarvis has been a strong advocate of National Heritage Areas such as the Ohio and Erie Canalway calling them "places where small investments pay huge dividends, providing demonstrable benefits in communities across the country and in partnership with our national parks."
Read Director Jarvis memo on the National Heritage Areas Program
Director Jarvis discussed his visit to Cleveland, and how urban parks require a strong vision and a lot of hard work in an NPS Director's Web Chat July 16th.
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| Go to 43:12 to hear the Director discuss the "renaissance of urban parks." |
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"Savor autumn in all its saturated hues at one of the most beautiful marathons on the fall racing calendar, which also happens to showcase one of the Midwest's few national parks. Named for the Native American word for "crooked river," the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park provides the brilliant backdrop for this trio of races, which started with a relay in 1992. The flat, fast events-including a marathon that's popular as a Boston qualifier-feature a winding, scenic out-and-back on the park's 85-mile Towpath Trail. The crushed limestone path meanders along the Cuyahoga River, complete with wooden bridges and resident wildlife like otters, herons, and even bald eagles. At the finish line, live music and $4 pints from a local brewery keep the fun rolling."
The Towpath Marathon is October 11th 2015, the event features full marathon, half marathon and 10k race lengths.
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Cuyahoga County has been awarded a $700,000 grant for Stage 3 of the Towpath Trail Extension Project from the Ohio Department of Public Works, through the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program.
The "Towpath Trail: Tremont Point Preserve & Greenway" project will use the funding to acquire 21.7 acres of property for the Towpath Trail Greenway, restoring natural open space and protecting the area from development.
The property acquisition consists of 11.25 acres located next to the Tremont Pointe Apartments and Interstate 490, and 10.45 acres between West 3rd and West 5th Street in the City of Cleveland.
Read more on the Towpath in Cleveland blog
Learn more about Stage 3 of the Towpath Trail Extension Project
Read some takeaways from Freshwater Cleveland
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Find Your Park
The Ohio & Erie Canalway is a National Heritage Area, designated by Congress to help preserve and celebrate the rails, trails, landscapes, towns and sites that grew up along the first 110 miles of the canal that helped Ohio and our nation grow.
Explore the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area
Check out the National Park Service site, Find Your Park
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How Can I Help?
The most efficient way to help Canalway Partners develop the Towpath Trail is to
become a member
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| See you on the trail, Ken Schneider
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