National Park receives $14 million to improve towpath trail, railroad

Cuyahoga Valley National Park has received approximately $14 million through the Great American Outdoors Act to assure continued access to recreational experiences in CVNP. The project will stabilize the riverbank at sites along the Cuyahoga River where erosion threatens the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad tracks. Work is expected to begin in October and continue through early 2025. Updates, including any necessary short-term closures, will be posted on the park website.

“The towpath trail and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad are centerpieces of the park experience that are very close to the Cuyahoga River. Being that close to the river offers beautiful views, but it also presents constant and costly maintenance challenges,” said Lisa Petit, Cuyahoga Valley National Park superintendent. “This project will allow us to proactively manage infrastructure that provides safe and enjoyable recreational experiences while we protect and enhance our most important natural resource: the Cuyahoga River.”

The eight locations set for improvements include two priority sections of Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and six locations along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

A design-build contract has been awarded to an Akron construction company that completed an emergency stabilization project at another park site earlier this year. Once the design is complete, work will include clearing the riverbank, placing rip rap and live stakes (branches placed directly into the soil that will root and grow), regrading and planting native vegetation to stabilize the soil. Each site will have a unique design based on individual site characteristics. After the stabilization methods are implemented, the contractor will remediate the construction site and equipment access routes.

Infrastructure funding from GAOA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are part of a concerted effort to address the extensive deferred maintenance and repair backlog in national parks. Supported by energy development revenue, GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund provides up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to enhance national parks, ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education and enjoyment for current and future visitors. ∞