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 the 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 Canal 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.
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, bird watching, 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
John Judge--First Vice Chairman
Nick Gattozzi--Second Vice Chairman
Jon Elsasser-- Secretary
Jeff Herold--Treasurer
Chris Burnham--Past Chairman
Rob Bobel
Frances S. Buchholzer
Todd W. Ederer
David Ewing
Ted Gerber
Lolly Hayes
Karl B. Lucas
Holli Mallak
Mitchell A. McCoy
Rick Merolla
Ed Metzger
Tim Miller
Tom Moline
Greg W. Theirl
J. Bret Treier
Staff
Daniel M. Rice,
President & Chief Executive Officer
drice@ohioeriecanal.org
Debora S. Rolland, Vice President of Operations & Development
drolland@ohioeriecanal.org
Susan Reid, Project Manager
sreid@ohioeriecanal.org
Sarah Gibbs, Office Manager
sgibbs@ohioeriecanal.org
