Grant marks the largest federal grant ever awarded to Park District
Cleveland Metroparks announced the Park District has been awarded a $19.5 million federal grant, the largest ever bestowed upon the organization, by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.
The investment fully funds construction of two key trail projects, the Slavic Village Downtown Connector North and the Morgana Run Extension, both identified in the Cuyahoga Greenways Plan. Design of the two projects has been made possible under a separate RAISE planning grant awarded to Cleveland Metroparks in 2021.
“An investment of this magnitude is substantial because it allows Cleveland Metroparks and our partners to take a vision that’s been adopted by the community and transform it into reality, directly impacting the quality of life for residents who will greatly benefit from improved access and connectivity to the rapidly growing regional trail network,” said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman. “The ability to accomplish these projects with partners while utilizing 100% federal funds is significant and would not be possible without the meaningful advocacy of Senator Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Shontel Brown.”
The Slavic Village Downtown Connector North will establish 1.7 miles of trail from E. 14th Street and Orange Avenue in Downtown Cleveland to the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Roseville Court. The Slavic Village Downtown Connector, including future phases, will total 3.2 miles and connect Washington Reservation to Downtown Cleveland while also connecting to the existing 2.1-mile Morgana Run Trail in Slavic Village. The nearly 1-mile Morgana Run Extension will complete the Morgana Run Trail to connect users from the Slavic Village Downtown Connector to Mill Creek Falls and Mill Creek Connector Trail in Garfield Park Reservation at Warner and Turney Roads, and on to the Towpath Trail.
The trails are among those included in the Cuyahoga Greenways Plan, which identifies areas of opportunity to make Cleveland a more equitable and connected city. The grant is a major step forward in providing east side trail access to residents, thereby providing alternatives to address transportation challenges and connecting residents to centers for employment, education, civic and recreational assets.
“These trail projects connect residents in underserved areas to a multitude of resources while advancing planning initiatives like Complete & Green Streets, the Cleveland Climate Action Plan and Vision Zero,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “We are grateful to President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg and all the partners involved for this opportunity to make our neighborhoods safer, healthier and more resilient.”
“Multimodal investments for building better infrastructure and access to communities are a win-win for our region. I am excited that these well-planned projects, the Slavic Village Downtown Connector, Morgana Run Trail, Booth Avenue Extension were funded through the RAISE grant program that promotes safety, mobility, and community connectivity,” said NOACA Executive Director-CEO Grace Gallucci.
"We passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest in our communities, and update and repair the roads, trails, and transit Ohioans use every day,” said U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. “This investment is a continuation of our work and will make our roads and trails safer and improve our neighborhoods into the future.”
“I am excited to announce these federal funds for Cleveland Metroparks thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This is exactly what we need: federal investment in local communities to support trails, park space, and user safety, as we continue to make Northeast Ohio a great place to live. The grant will help connect communities and create new trail space. I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law last Congress and proud to submit a letter of support for Cleveland Metroparks’ application earlier this year,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.
Construction on the two trail segments is planned to begin in 2026. The project is made possible with strong collaboration from the City of Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Slavic Village Development, Union Miles Development Corporation, Bike Cleveland, and others involved in the design of the trails. Furthermore, Cleveland Metroparks applauds Cuyahoga County and NOACA for their longstanding effort to further execute the Cuyahoga Greenways Plan.
In 2016, Cleveland Metroparks was awarded a similar grant of nearly $8 million dollars funding five trail projects as part of the Re-Connecting Cleveland initiative that addressed critical gaps in the transportation network on the city’s near west side, establishing an unprecedented connection to Cleveland’s lakefront.
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