for our Metropolitan Future

Building trails in densely developed urban areas can be difficult, time consuming and very expensive. It often requires overcoming many barriers, including freeways, major roads, watercourses, pipelines, utility corridors and railroad lines, industrial properties and brownfields as well as dealing with reluctant property owners. In spite of these challenges, the Greater Cleveland area has experienced a significant increase in the number of trails and greenways that are being planned and constructed, providing important alternative transportation modes by linking neighborhoods, educational and institutional facilities and parks and recreation areas. Trails and greenways increase property values, promote healthier lifestyles and serve as catalysts for economic development.

Over the past decade, hundreds of community officials, urban planners, engineers, developers and interested citizens have attended a series of Northeast Ohio Trails and Greenway conferences to learn about the latest in trail planning and development. Although 2019 is an off year for the conference, the Levin College Forum is pleased to bring together local experts who have been involved in the planning and development of a number of local trail initiatives to present updates on their latest trail projects.

The panel will include:

Freddy Collier, Director, Cleveland City Planning Commission

Michael Mears, Senior Planner, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission

Brian Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Metroparks

Michelle Johnson, Director of Community Planning and Design, Environmental Design Group

Derek Schafer, Executive Director, West Creek Conservancy

Moderator: James M. Kastelic, Research Fellow/Lecturer, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University 

Register for this forum.