National Park Service Announces Projects to Renew Cuyahoga River
Brecksville, Ohio - 2019 is a year of celebrating 50 years of amazing environmental recovery of the Cuyahoga River. Known for catching fire in 1969, the Cuyahoga River is now sparking excitement throughout the region and becoming an iconic symbol of renewal.
Spanning 22 miles of the river between Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) has and will play an integral role in the river’s recovery. CVNP is working alongside stakeholders throughout northeast Ohio to change the narrative about the region and its river from a story of pollution and decay to a story of revival and vibrancy. To play our part in improving the health of the watershed, CVNP is embarking on a number of large-scale restoration projects in 2019. Projects will include the removal of the Brecksville dam, stream and river floodplain restoration projects, improving the watered portion of the Ohio & Erie Canal, and storm water management, among others.
One unavoidable impact of this restoration effort along the river will be on the park’s Special Park Uses Program. Beginning in 2019, Cuyahoga Valley National Park will place a temporary hold on Special Park Uses permits for events on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail between Station Road Trailhead in Brecksville and Lock 29 Trailhead in Peninsula. This will include the entire vicinity of Station Road Bridge Trailhead and Boston Store. This temporary hold will last until Dec. 31, 2021. This hold is only on event permits and does not constitute a full closure of the Towpath Trail to public use.
The restoration projects will result in occasional short-term closures to public use of the Towpath Trail in specific areas. The National Park Service is working to finalize dates for the projects. However, at this time, we are unable to predict when the short term closures will occur. We will notify the public via press releases, on the web, and through social media about any closure on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. You can learn more about the upcoming projects at www.nps.gov/cuva/river-renewal-underway.
Craig Kenkel, Superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, First Ladies National Historic Site, and James A. Garfield National Historic Site, said “We realize these actions will have short-term impacts on visitors throughout the next few years, but we are keeping our eye on the big picture. These projects will have positive lasting effects on the health of the Cuyahoga River and the park’s infrastructure and those advances benefit all visitors to the Cuyahoga Valley."
Also be sure to keep an eye out for Ollie the Otter! Anytime you see him, it is a reminder that our River Renewal is Underway! For more information about each of these projects, stay connected to your National Park on www.nps.gov/cuva, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About Cuyahoga Valley National Park
CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural activities in one setting. For more information visit www.nps.gov/cuva or call 330-657-2752
Tags: river river renewal 50th anniversary 1969 fire restore restore river resource management river restoration restoration
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
