Towpath Trail Update
There are many exciting updates to the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail through downtown Akron. The City of Akron completed several projects in 2009. You can walk or ride your bike from the Mustill Store through downtown Akron to Summit Lake to Waterloo Road.
Only one project remains - the Towpath Trail behind Canal Place and the bridge repacement at Bartages Street.
In September 2009 hundreds of trail users gather to witness the opening of the floating Towpath Trail over Summit Lake. Hikers and bide riders will be able to travel along the Towpath from downtown Akron to the Wolfe Creek trail head in Barberton.
Garden Alley – next to Lock 3
This project has been completed by the City of Akron's Engineering Department. The canal was covered up in the 1960's by the O'Neil's parking deck, Cascade Plaza and Route 59. The water continued to run under the roadways and buildings. The City of Akron has worked to uncover the Canal on Garden Ally next to Lock 3 Park which provides a walk-way through that section and a bike stair to walk up to Bowery where you will be just a block away from bridge over Route 59. This is an alternative route to the current routes in Akron. The Canal waters continue to run under Cascade Plaza and Route 59. You can see the water at the Beech Street Trailhead.
Cascade Locks Phase II
Cascade Locks Phase II
The Cascade Locks Phase II section is open, leading from the Mustill Store to downtown Akron. Work on the section from Summit Lake to Waterloo Road was completed in 2009. From Manchester Road to US 224 the trail is essentially complete. Another half-mile section was completed in 2009, from Eastern Road to within one half-mile of Snyder Road.
Replace Bartges Street Bridge
The project consists of demolishing the existing 4 lane bridge structure, and constructing two new pre-manufactured concrete bridges that will allow for the canal bridge and bikeway underpass to coexist as separate adjacent bridge structures. Ultimately this will provide the pedestrian/bikeway crossing under Bartges Street avoiding a traffic conflict. The target date is 2010 for construction to start.
Summit Lake Towpath Trail &
Kenmore Towpath Summit Lake Towpath Trail
Was completed on southwesterly side of the baseball/softball diamonds at Summit Lake Park near Long Street. It runs along the easterly side of Summit Lake to Lewis Street. At this point you enter the floating trail extending from the Summit Lake shoreline at Lewis Street to Kenmore Boulevard. This floating section includes a 42' by 40' observation deck located near the midpoint of the span. This exciting piece of the trail was opened in 2009.
Kenmore Towpath Trail
The Kenmore Towpath Trail was completed in 2009, along the east shoreline of the Ohio & Erie Canal, from the south shoreline of the Kenmore Boulevard bridge to approximately 150 feet south of the Wilbeth Road Bridge. A pre-fabricated bridge spans Sweitzer Creek. Floating deck sections span the canal from Kenmore Boulevard to the CSX railroad bridge, as well as from the Akron Barberton Cluster Railway to the south side of Falor Creek.
Waterloo Towpath Trail
This project completed a central portion of the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail from Wilbeth Road to Waterloo Road adjacent to the Ohio and Erie Canal. You can park at the new Wilbeth Road Trailhead complete with restroom facilities.
Route 212 Trail Section
StarkParks is currently constructing the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail along route 212 from Riverview Rd. to the Stark/Tuscarawas County line. Future plans are for a bridge to cross the Tuscarawas River where there was once a canal aqueduct. This will connect the two counties.
Zoarville
The Ohio Public Work Commission has awarded OECC a grant to assist in purchasing 71 acres of land needed to complete the Towpath Trail to Route 800. The property is situated along the Tuscarawas River and be used for the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail and a trail head. This project will preserve flood plain land and habitat.
New Trail Will Link To Towpath:
Freedom Secondary Trail
(Metro Parks, Serving Summit County)
Starting at the Portage Hike and Bike Trail in Kent, this proposed multi-purpose trail –- on land owned by Metro Regional Transit Authority –- will follow an unused railroad corridor, connect to the Tallmadge Trail and continue west to the Towpath Trail via a linkage at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Northside Station in downtown Akron. Another section may link to the park district's 33.5-mile Bike & Hike Trail in Munroe Falls. A feasibility study was completed in 2009. Construction and engineering will take place in three phases through 2012.
