Cleveland Metroparks broke ground today for Phase 2 of the Mill Creek Trail, a key connector trail in Cleveland Metroparks 300-mile trail system, that will link Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation in Cuyahoga Heights to Garfield Park Reservation in Garfield Heights. The new Mill Creek Trail is a strategic part of Cleveland Metroparks Emerald Necklace Centennial Plan targeting land acquisition to augment and connect existing reservations, moving forward to the Lakefront. The new all purpose trail will eventually connect Garfield Park Reservation to Lake Erie via Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation and the Lake Link Trail. Phase 2 of the Mill Creek Trail is a 1.1 mile trail beginning in Bacci Park in Cuyahoga Heights following Warner Road and ending at Garfield Boulevard in Garfield Heights. The ADA accessible trail will connect Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation and the Towpath Trail to Garfield Park Reservation providing quality greenspace among the urban landscape for cycling, walking, hiking, running, and other recreational opportunities. The trail will include a 150 ft pedestrian bridge spanning Mill Creek, a 1,100 ft switchback to offset the steep elevation change, a dramatic overlook of Valley View and scenic views of some of the best preserved sections of Mill Creek, one of the largest tributaries of the Cuyahoga River. The trail will meander through forest and meadows and along Mill Creek giving visitors a chance to see cardinals, robins, red fox, white-tailed deer and possibly, even an eagle. Phase 2 of the Mill Creek Trail is scheduled to be completed late summer 2015.