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Construction Updates
June 30, 2009-Updates on the Robinson
Ave connector to the TowPath Trail. Assistant
Planning Director Joe Stefan advised he has
met with the consultants last week to begin the
engineering work on the project. Once that work has been completed a more definite time table should be available.
Reported by Ruth Kaser February 24, 2009
I met today with Assistant Planning Director, Joe Stefan............
Reported in the Akron Beacon Journal. December 21, 2008. The towpath extension across Summit Lake to open next summer. A floating walk way 14 feet wide will run 1645 feet over the water. It is supported by polyethylene-filled floats and anchored to the lake bottom. The trail is being built in 20 foot sections off Ira Street. They are then floated into place. A 20-foot section of the floating trail can support 15,400 pounds safely. The on the water work started December 1. The extension is to be completed next summer.
The floating deck is part of the city of Akron's $3.6 million plan to extend the trail from the Summit Lake Community Center south along the 100-acre lake's east side and over the water to West Wilbeth Road. That work began July 2 of this year.
The on the land portion of the trail is paved, 10 feet wide with 2-foot shoulders on both sides.
The trail is complete, except for landscaping, from the community center to the west end of Lewis Street-that is where it moves to the water. The trail will be built atop the water to a spot on the eastern bank of the Ohio & Erie Canal south of Kenmore Blvd.
Bids requested:Akron is seeking bids to extend the Towpath Trail from Wilbeth Road south to West Waterloo Road. Also, Metro Parks, Serving Summit County is still working on the 1 mile section from Eastern Road in New Franklin to Snyder Avenue in Barberton. That work could begin in 2009 and be completed in 2010. The work is pending approval from the rail road as the trail section crosses an active rail line.
Reported in the Akron Beacon Journal. October 21, 2008. Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, is getting a $45000 grant from the Ohio & Eric Canalway Coalition. The grant will be used to help build a 1 mile section of the trail on PPG Industries land in Barberton. The park system expects to complete an agreement soon with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway to build an underpass below active rail tracks. The 1 mile trail section would also cross the Russell Avenue Landfill. It will complete the trail from off Van Buren Avenue at Eastern Avenue to Snyder Avenue. Planner David Whited of the park district calls this section one of the most complicated being planned and built by the county park district.
Barberton also was awarded a $25000 grant to assist with adding a sound wall to separate the Towpath Trail from an auto recycling yard near Snyder Avenue and to add a trail head at the Robinson Avenue Bridge to improve access from the Towpath Trail to downtown Barberton.
Reported in the Akron Beacon Journal, August 23,2008. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday, August 22 to dedicate the new Towpath Trail bridge over the Innerbelt into downtown Akron. The bridge, 275 feet long, is for pedestrians and bicyclists. It is the centerpiece of a 2,000-foot trail extension that runs south along the Innerbelt(state Route 59)from Beech Street to Ash and Quaker streets behind Cascade Plaza. From Cascade Plaza, the trail runs to Lock 2 Park behind the baseball stadium, crosses the canal and continues to the south.
 Towpath Tags
Support the Trail with a Towpath Tag!
Did you know:
The Towpath Trail is patrolled by park rangers and volunteer Trailblazers. They are available to share information and assist with emergencies. This service costs about $100,000 annually.
The Towpath Trail lies in a flood plain between the canal and the Cuyahoga River. Erosion damage from the river and large storms make more expensive repairs occasionally necessary.
The Towpath Trail is popular, receiving over 2 million visits each year.
Towpath Tags cost just $5 each, and proceeds contribute to trail maintenance.
You may purchase tags in person at the Nature Realm visitors center, daily from noon to 5 p.m., and at the administrative offices, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also purchase the tags by double clicking the image of the towpath tag. It will open a new window to the website of the Cuyahoga National Park Association.
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Test your knowledge of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail
1. Is Nesmith Lake a natural or a man made lake?
A. It is a natural lake;
B. It is a man made lake;
C. It is a private lake owned by a former Monkee.
2. Portage Lake State Park offers many amenities. What doesn't the park offer?
A. Campsites;
B. Hiking trails;
C. An airplane hanger.
3. The city of Barberton was established in 1891 and was founded by:
A. Ohio Columbus Barber;
B. Simon Perkins;
C. Bob Hope.
4. Where along the Towpath Trail can you find Revolutionary War history?
A. Fort Laurens State Memorial;
B: Mustill Store;
C. Hale Farm and Village
5. Proper etiquette of trail use says:
A. Just as while driving, the slower traffic stays to the right, passing is on the left, and give an audible signal in advance while passing to warn other trail users;
B. Do what you want, when you want to;
C. Walk with your dog unleashed, and let your dog tell that horse who is boss on the trail.
6. The Towpath Trail has how many completed miles:
A. 28
B. 80
C. 101
7. Historic Canal Fulton is the only town in the heritage canalway that offers what opportunity?:
A. A canal boat ride;
B. Speed boat rides;
C. A place to shop.
8. The Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland has several claims to fame, however, which of the following is NOT one of them:
A. It was the main railroad terminal servicing five of the six major passenger lines;
B. Until 1967 it was the tallest building outside of New York City;
C. It was used for the famous scene in King Kong.
9. The start of the Towpath trail is in:
A. Penninsula;
B. Barberton;
C. Cleveland
10. Akron is the direct result of what construction?
A. The Ohio & Erie Canal;
B. The Akron Art Museum;
C. Quaker Square
All questions and answers were taken from the new Towpath Companion, and this webpage. Do you have a question to be included on the next quiz? Email us, at rdbikeshop@yahoo.com.
So how did you do on the test? Did you score a perfect 10? Check the results below, as well as your ranking.
Answers:
1 A
2. C
3. A
4. A
5. A
6. B
7. A
8. C
9. C
10. A
Results:
8-10 Correct -Excellent! You are a frequent visitor to the towpath and you have your Companion in hand when you visit.
6-8 Correct-Pretty good, you don't always bring your Companion with you on your towpath visits, but you do try to stop to read the plaques and visit the sites along the way- and it shows!
3-5 Correct- O. K., but you can do better. You were probably busy riding, jogging or walking when you visited this section of the towpath and you didn't stop to read and learn about the area.
1-2 Correct- Sorry but you did not pass the test. You must not have had a chance to visit the towpath or maybe you down own a Towpath Companion. Suggestion- stop in at R-D Bike Shop and buy your own copy.
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