Cuyahoga River Water Trail Partners Announce Public Meetings on Ohio Water Trail Designation

City of Akron is part of the collaborative group of over 25 organizations

City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Annie McFadden
Published: 10-01-2018

The Cuyahoga River Water Trail Partners (CRWTP) are organizing a series of public meetings to generate community and organizational support for the designation and implementation of the Cuyahoga River as an Ohio Water Trail. The Cuyahoga River would join 11 existing Ohio rivers under that designation.

The CRWTP, a grass-root collaborative of over 25 organizations including Akron, has been working since February 2011 to develop the concept of a Cuyahoga River Water Trail – a paddling route for the entire length of the Cuyahoga River. The State of Ohio designation of the Cuyahoga River as an Ohio River Water trail will improve and promote public access to, and use of, the river as a valuable resource for low-impact recreation, economic development, and tourism; and to support and enhance river appreciation, conservation, and stewardship.

For Akron, this is an important step to bolster the already extensive work being done to clean up our local waterways. Mayor Horrigan adds, "In Akron, we have shown a deep commitment to the restoration and maintenance of our precious waterways. An Ohio Water Trail designation would allow us to continue that mission with increased opportunities to properly promote the Cuyahoga River as a regional destination."

Cuyahoga River Water Trail Open Houses will be held throughout the Cuyahoga River watershed in October and November 2018 and are open to the public:

 October 9, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., The Natatorium, City of Cuyahoga Falls, 2345 Fourth Street, Cuyahoga Falls, OH (Gorge River section).

 October 15, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Happy Days Lodge, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 500 West Streetsboro Road, Peninsula, OH (Cuyahoga Valley River Section).

 October 16, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Buchert Park Lodge, Village of Mantua, 4808 East High Street, Mantua, OH (Scenic River Section).

 October 24, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Merwin’s Wharf, Cleveland Metroparks, 1785 Merwin Avenue, Cleveland, OH (Burning River Section).

 October 31, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Roy Smith Shelterhouse, Fred Fuller Park, City of Kent, 497 Middlebury Road, Kent, OH (Heritage River Section).

Letters of support, proclamations and resolutions are needed to show community support for the Cuyahoga River Water Trail designation. CRWTP’s application will be submitted to the State of Ohio in early 2019. If the group is successful, an announcement will be made on June 22, 2019— the 50th anniversary of the infamous Cuyahoga River fire. For more information, please contact: Andrea Irland, [email protected], 440-717-3775 or 330-524-4158

For further information, contact:
Annie McFadden
Deputy Chief of Staff
166 S. High Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Phone: 330-375-2345
E-mail: [email protected]