Summit County Trail
& Greenway Plan
The Summit County Trail & Greenway Plan is a visionary plan that proposes trails and greenways throughout Summit County. These networks of trails are east and west linkages, linking communities to communities, as well as linking communities to the Towpath Trail and to other local and regional trails and greenways. The Plan identifies trails and greenways throughout Summit County and represents over 500 miles of proposed trail and greenspace. Since its implementation in 2001, 35 miles of trail has been constructed and 26 are in planning, and over 338 acres of greenspace has been preserved.
Dedication of floating Towpath and Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail in downtown Akron
The OECC is continuing to work with various communities to assist in the implementation of trails and greenspaces in their area.
How can you be involved?
These trails and greenways will happen at the local level, thus, grassroots committees are imperative to the success of this plan. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact Debby Rolland, Summit County Trail and Greenway Community Grant Program Coordinator, at the OECC office at 330-374-5657 or contact us online.
How will these projects be funded?
These projects can be funded in a number of ways, including applying for grant money through the Summit County Trail and Greenway Community Grant Program. This program has helped provide seed funding for trail and greenspace projects in Summit County. Thanks to the vision and leadership of Summit County Executive Russ Pry and Summit County Council.
From 2002 to 2009, the Summit County Trail & Greenway Community Grant Projects awarded $932,650.00 for trail and greenspace projects, matched $9,211,464.00 and leveraged $12,684,079.00.
For everyone $1 of Summit County investment, and additional $13 was leveraged of public and private investment. The Summit County Trail & Greenway Program, for the past 8 years, included the construction of over 35 Miles of trails with over 26 trails planned and designed. These included the trail plan and construction of a $2 million trailhead at the Richard Howe house. This also includes 330 acres of greenspaces acquired. Over 3 million visitors annually utilize the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Based on the US Department of Commerce calculations, with an average of Ohio salary of about twenty thousand dollars, 632 jobs were created as a result of the Summit County Trail & Greenway plan for the duration of the grant program.
From 2002 to 2009, the Summit County Trail & Greenway Grant program has been distributed to the following agencies and organizations:
Bath Township |
Metro Parks, Serving Summit County |
