The West Park and Kamm’s Corners neighborhoods will soon have walking and cycling access to the Rocky River Reservation via a direct pathway. That’s all thanks to the $2 million Old Lorain Road Connector Trail project.
Construction on a new multimodal trail, The Old Lorain Rd. Connector Trail, will soon be underway in Cleveland, promising to bring improved accessibility between the Kamm’s Corners neighborhood and the Rocky River Reservation.
“This isn’t just a recreational trail; it’s really about creating an access point for our neighborhood,” said Joe Dill, deputy director from the West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development. “Our area borders the Rocky River Reservation, but there are very few direct paths for pedestrians. This trail finally gives cyclists and walkers a convenient route down to the reservation without needing to drive.”
The proposed connector trail will “traverse the area’s steep topography near Fairview Hospital to create a new park connection for the 1,400 residents living within a .5 mile of the park,” the Metroparks said on its website.
“In the valley, the link will connect to the existing Emerald Necklace Trail, an off-road trail that stretches 33 miles through Cleveland Metroparks from Detroit Avenue in Lakewood to the Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and connects to multiple communities and trails along the way,” the Metroparks added.
Cleveland Metroparks, in partnership with the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, and West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development, is supporting this $2 million project that aims to meet long-standing community demands for enhanced pedestrian and cycling access. Michael Baker International was awarded the design contract in October 2023, according to the Metroparks. The contracting partner is Nerone & Sons Inc.
The trail’s construction responds to years of community input and collaboration, through community meetings in Ward 17, feedback and requests from public consultations, and engaging residents in planning sessions . Residents have long expressed the need for accessible paths to natural spaces like the Rocky River Reservation, which had been difficult to reach without driving.
Sean McDermott, chief planning and design officer at the Cleveland Metroparks, described the path the trail will take. This 33-mile trail will be a 10-foot-wide paved trail that will serve as a crucial link from the valley floor near the Little Met Golf Course, climbing up to Lorain Road and integrating at River Edge Rd with the Emerald Necklace, he said. That’s a network of more than 300 miles of trails. There’s a commitment to minimizing environmental impact as well, McDermott noted. Trail construction will utilize an existing corridor along Old Lorain Road, reducing disturbances to the hillside and forested areas.
Set to break ground this winter and aiming for completion by late 2025.
“We’re really excited to see this come to fruition. We hope this trail is just the beginning of creating more pedestrian-friendly access to one of our neighborhood’s greatest assets,” Dill stated, noting the successful collaboration among different organizations. “It’s been a great partnership that we’re really hoping to continue to build on.”
A Historical Connector
Legend has it that the vision for this project has been around for over 100 years.
Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., an American landscape architect, played a possibly foundational role in shaping Cleveland’s Metroparks but also in designing the grounds of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Green design ran in the family. His father designed Central Park, and Olmsted Jr. and his brother continued their father’s legacy.
In the early 20th century, Olmsted Jr. was invited to Cleveland to consult on the city’s growing park initiative. His vision inspired the foundation for what would become the Cleveland Metroparks system. He advocated for natural vistas and open green spaces across the city’s peripheries, from Rocky River to the Chagrin Valley, aiming to connect urban dwellers with nature. Today, this expansive 23,000-acre park system has become one of the most celebrated in the nation.
Olmsted Jr.’s early 1900’s visit may have sparked the idea of connecting Cleveland’s urban landscape with its natural surroundings, McDermott suggested. Today, The Old Lorain Rd. Connector Trail reimagines this dream. By providing safe, scenic routes across Cleveland’s parks and neighborhoods, the project aims to honor a historic legacy while offering residents a beautiful way to engage with the city’s natural landscape.
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