About Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition
The Ohio & Erie Canal opened up the frontier settlement of Ohio and provided settlers with a reliable form of transportation to ship products. This unique waterway is being rediscovered as communities seek to celebrate their heritage while stimulating community & economic development. Today, there is renewed interest in the preservation, development and interpretation along the resources of the Ohio & Erie Canal as it extends from New Philadelphia to Cleveland.
Established in 1989, Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition is a private, non-profit organization working on the development of the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway. The Coalition provides educational programs, events and publications about the Heritage Canalway while developing strong working relationships with partners to preserve and interpret the natural, historical and recreational resources throughout the corridor.
(Photos by Tom Jones)
Natural Resources
The Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway represents a biological mosaic with natural systems of forests, bogs, marshes, streams and lakes that are interspersed with cities, towns and villages, orchards, and croplands.
Historical Resources
Throughout the Heritage Canalway, from the urban centers to the rural countrysides, there are remnants of locks and structures associated with the development and growth of the Ohio & Erie Canal, the nation's first inland waterway link between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico.
Recreational Resources
The Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway provides many recreational opportunities including bicycling, hiking, birding, horseback riding, fishing and canoeing to the five million people living within a 50 mile radius.
Economic Development
The Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway effort encourages government officials, community volunteers, and businesses to work together. This collective energy attracts investment while maintaining a high quality of life. In addition the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway creates employment opportunities in the region.
Board Members
Mike Hoffman, Chairman
General Manger
Lindsay Concrete
John Judge, First Vice Chairman
Director of Integrated Business Planning First Energy
Nick Gattozzi, Second Vice Chairman
Vice President of Government Advocacy
The Greater Cleveland Partnership
Rick Merolla, Secretary
Service Director
City of Akron
Jeff Herold, Treasurer
Senior Vice President
PNC Bank Private Client Group
Chris Burnham, Past Chairman
President and Executive Director
Summit County Port Authority
Timothy Andrews
Dominion East Ohio Gas
Manager of Gas Operations Ohio C&M South
Rob Bobel
Park Engineer
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Frances S. Buchholzer
Commissioner
Metro Parks, Serving Summit County
Todd W. Ederer
Ederer Construction, Inc.
Jon Elsasser
Retired Businessperson
The Timken Company
Ted Gerber
Retired Businessperson
Lolly Hayes
Crockett Homes
David Haywood
Program Director
AECOM
Karl B. Lucas
Senior Planner
Stark County Regional Planning Commission and Stark County Area Transportation Study
Holli Mallak
Director of Programs and Scholarships
Barberton Community Foundation and The Tuscora Park Health and Wellness Foundation
Mitchell A. McCoy
Vice President
KCI Associates of Ohio
Ed Metzger
Retired Businessperson
Metzger Photo
Tim Miller
Marketing Communications Manager
Commercial Tires Department
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Tom Moline
Vice President—Steel Manufacturing
The Timkin Company
J. Bret Treier
Partner
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
Staff
Daniel M. Rice,
President & Chief Executive Officer
Read bio.
drice@ohioeriecanal.org
Debora S. Rolland, Vice President of Operations & Development
Read bio.
drolland@ohioeriecanal.org
Susan Reid, Project Manager
Read bio.
sreid@ohioeriecanal.org
Sarah Gibbs, Office Manager
Read bio.
sgibbs@ohioeriecanal.org
