River access, greenspace, wildlife…
all in the heart of the Flats
Scranton Flats, the first publicly funded section of the Towpath in Cleveland, is now open.
On July 7th 2014, Scranton Flats was handed back to the people of Northeast Ohio. Gone are the pollution, dense and uncontrolled foliage, and abandoned marina. In its place are native plants that draw birds and wildlife, natural riverbanks designed to harbor fish, and, of course, the Towpath Trail. It is the first step in connecting the Towpath to downtown, and creating an uninterrupted trail that links Cleveland, Akron, Massillon, and beyond.
- Restores 2,800 feet of natural shoreline
- Creates a major fish habitat – transforming a boat marina site into two-acre habitat that has fostered juvenile walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and greenside darter.
- Provides first publicly built 2/3 mile section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cleveland
- Remediates and restores nine acres of upland into meadowland
- Positions the Cuyahoga River fish habitat as a national model for urban shipping lanes
- Fuels momentum for completion of the Towpath Trail in Cleveland and the development of Canal Basin Park -a signature destination for Cleveland, NEO and the National Heritage Area
Partner Organizations–
Canalway Partners
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area
Funding Sources–
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Fund – $3 million – the largest combined award for a project
Clean Ohio Conservation Fund – $3.175 million
State of Ohio Cultural Arts Facilities –$500,000
Clean Ohio Trail Grant – $425,000
U.S. Fish & Wildlife – $134,069
How we got here-
Scranton Flats Wins $3 Million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funds
News stories-
Next Phase of Towpath Trail Opens in Cleveland’s Flats; WCPN 7/8/2014
Cleveland’s Excellent New Scraton Flats Trail to be Dedicated July 7th; Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/1/2014
Photos:
Cuyahoga County has documented the transformation of Scranton Flats through photos and video updates.
There are ribbon-cutting photos online from Sustainable Cleveland and Straight Shooter
Get directions to Scranton Flats
Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail Visitors Page
Scranton Flats is in Stage 4 of the Towpath Trail Extension Project