Park District is also partnering with Student Conservation Association to expand existing mountain bike trail at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation
Cleveland Metroparks today revealed plans to add a pump track at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation that will be the first of its kind in Northeast Ohio. The Park District is also partnering with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to collaborate on the expansion of the existing mountain bike trail at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation through hands-on conservation and natural resource management training for urban youth.
The pump track as well as the enhanced mountain bike trail network at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation will be located just north of Canalway Center, connecting to the nearby Towpath Trail that runs through the reservation and providing trail access directly to and from downtown Cleveland.
“This pump track will be the first of its kind in Northeast Ohio, offering a new challenge and amenity for our biking community,” said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman. “We’re also excited to partner with the Student Conservation Association on the expansion of our original mountain bike trail at Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation. These projects build upon our mission of conservation, education and recreation, and support youth conservation leaders in our community.”
The partnership with SCA will support a small group of local high school students to double the size of Cleveland Metroparks' oldest mountain bike trail that was the first of its kind in Cuyahoga County when it opened in 2007. The students will begin work to expand the natural surface trail to approximately five miles later this summer for completion by summer 2022. The expansion will include sections of beginner, intermediate and advance trails as well as a flow trail with jumps. As part of the partnership, SCA will also be working on additional Cleveland Metroparks natural surface trails.
Separate from the mountain bike trail expansion, the pump track is expected to be designed and constructed by American Ramp Company this summer. Designed for BMX and mountain bike riders, the pump track is a looped track featuring small hills and banked turns that allow riders to maximize their momentum along the track with minimal pedaling. Riders generate movement by “pumping” along the track through up and down movement on track’s hills and banked turns. Project design on the pump track will be complete in early summer with construction scheduled to start soon after. The pump track is expected to be open in fall 2021.
Cleveland Metroparks continues to expand its mountain bike trail offerings across the Emerald Necklace since the first 2.5-mile mountain bike trail in 2007 to approximately 30 miles of mountain bike trails today across Northeast Ohio in Bedford, Mill Stream Run, Ohio & Erie Canal and West Creek reservations.
The projects will be supported by Cleveland Metroparks Trails Fund that helps preserve, maintain and expand Cleveland Metroparks 300+ mile trail network. To support the Trails Fund and the pump track visit
clevelandmetroparks.com/donate.
About the Student Conservation Association (SCA)
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is America’s conservation corps. Our members protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces in all 50 states.
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