An open house is set for December 12 to discuss a water trail along the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga Valley National Park/NPS, D.J. Reiser

An open house has been scheduled for next week at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio to discuss the Cuyahoga River Water Trail project and provide input towards its creation.

The meeting will be on Wednesday December 12, from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at Happy Days Lodge (500 W. Streetsboro Road, Peninsula, OH, 44264). CRWT project leaders will present information at 5:30 p.m., but the invitation is open; come at any time during the open house to ask questions and give comments.

The Cuyahoga River is a symbol of efforts to clean up America’s waterways. Famous for catching fire, the Cuyahoga is now sparking excitement.  

A water trail is the aquatic equivalent of a hiking trail. It designates a route for paddling - including access points, signage, safety information, education, amenities, maintenance, and management for a better user experience. The proposed Cuyahoga River Water Trail will celebrate the river’s renewal, create experiences for all, connect vibrant communities, and benefit local economies.  

The effort to create the CRWT along the entire 100 miles of the Cuyahoga River has been under way since 2011 by the CRWT Partners - a team of leaders from park systems, county and regional agencies, municipalities and non-profit groups. The team has been working to restore and protect the Cuyahoga River as a healthy waterway and robust recreational resource.

The goal of the CRWT Partners is to create the CRWT and secure designation as an Ohio Water Trail by June 2019 for the 50th Anniversary of the last burning of the river. In order for the water trail to serve as a lasting legacy of the rejuvenation of the Cuyahoga River, support is needed from local and regional governments, organizations, and citizens. For more information visit www.cuyahogariverwatertrail.org

Twenty-two miles of the 100-mile river are within Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

“We look forward to the bright future of the river, and the water trail designation will help to propel us into the next 50 years – of working together to protect and enjoy this phenomenal regional asset,” said Paul Stoehr, the park's acting superintendent.