CLEVELAND — Cleveland Metroparks, in partnership with the city of Cleveland, has been awarded nearly $20 million in federal funds to construct new pedestrian/bicycle trails on the city's east side.
On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the Department of Transportation awarded a $19.5 million investment which will fully fund the Slavic Village Downtown Connector North and the Morgana Run Extension.
The funds are coming from the Transportation Department's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. A previous RAISE grant provided money for the design of the two projects.
“An investment of this magnitude is substantial because it allows Cleveland Metroparks and our partners to take a vision that’s been adopted by the community and transform it into reality, directly impacting the quality of life for residents who will greatly benefit from improved access and connectivity to the rapidly growing regional trail network,” said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman in a release. “The ability to accomplish these projects with partners while utilizing 100% federal funds is significant and would not be possible without the meaningful advocacy of Senator Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Shontel Brown.”
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE TRAILS
According to the Metroparks' release, "the Slavic Village Downtown Connector North will establish 1.7 miles of trail from E. 14th Street and Orange Avenue in Downtown Cleveland to the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Roseville Court. The Slavic Village Downtown Connector, including future phases, will total 3.2 miles and connect Washington Reservation to Downtown Cleveland while also connecting to the existing 2.1-mile Morgana Run Trail in Slavic Village."
Planners add that "the nearly 1-mile Morgana Run Extension will complete the Morgana Run Trail to connect users from the Slavic Village Downtown Connector to Mill Creek Falls and Mill Creek Connector Trail in Garfield Park Reservation at Warner and Turney Roads, and on to the Towpath Trail."
Construction on the two trail segments is expected to begin in 2026.
You can see maps of both trails below.
The trails are among those included in the Cuyahoga Greenways Plan, which project leaders say "identifies areas of opportunity to make Cleveland a more equitable and connected city. The grant is a major step forward in providing east side trail access to residents, thereby providing alternatives to address transportation challenges and connecting residents to centers for employment, education, civic and recreational assets."
“These trail projects connect residents in underserved areas to a multitude of resources while advancing planning initiatives like Complete & Green Streets, the Cleveland Climate Action Plan and Vision Zero,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “We are grateful to President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg and all the partners involved for this opportunity to make our neighborhoods safer, healthier and more resilient.”
According to Sen. Brown's office, the RAISE program's annual investment has more than doubled due to the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“We passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest in our communities, and update and repair the roads, trails, and transit Ohioans use every day,” Brown said in a statement. “This investment is a continuation of our work and will make our roads and trails safer and improve our neighborhoods into the future.”
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