01 / 17
A balmy break during a frozen February in northeast Ohio revealed how the northern end of the Towpath Trail project, a joint effort between Canalway Partners, the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks, and Cuyahoga County, is closer to completion. The warm day encouraged dog walkers, runners, and a few cyclists to explore the trail as construction crews work to wrap-up the $8.95 million project in late spring.
In Tremont the pedestrian bridge spanning Literary Rd. is closer to opening as railings and landscaping have been installed. When the the bridge opens, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to bypass the steep hill on the west end of University Rd. Nearby, Electric Gardens, a 132 unit apartment building adjacent to the Towpath Trail, is under construction.
Further up University Rd., brush and scrub trees have been removed from the hillside, revealing sweeping views of the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland’s skyline.
One of the eagerly anticipated facets of the project is Camp Cleveland, a historic site that will also feature some modern amenities. Opened in 1862, the 35 acre Camp Cleveland was the largest of Cleveland’s six Civil War training camps. When it closed three years later, more than 15,000 soldiers had trained at Camp Cleveland.
Camp Cleveland’s historical site will have a thoroughly modern vibe as four outdoor grills, bike racks, picnic benches, and two large swings have been installed along the edge of the bluff overlooking the Cuyahoga River.
Completion of the project is targeted for late spring and will coincide with the completion of several other connecting trails linked via the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail. Please note the Towpath Trail from Literary Rd. to the Sokolowski’s Overlook and from Carter Rd. to Canal Basin Park is still an active construction site and users should be cautious when using these segments.
When this section of the Towpath Trail is completed it will reach 90 miles from Canal Basin Park in Cleveland to historic Zoar Village. The iconic Towpath Trail runs through the heart of the 110 mile-long Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area.
