Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration & Trail Factsheet

Old Brooklyn will become the first neighborhood in Cleveland to lay claim to a direct connection to the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway's Towpath Trail. This news marks an exciting beginning for Cleveland. It sets precedent to creating connections to the main trunk of the Towpath Trail, and a network of designated street routes and off road all-purpose trails throughout the City for pedestrians and cyclists.

Cleveland's Department of Parks, Recreation and Properties has received a $745,000 grant as part of a $1.1 million project that will ensure conservation of and public access to the Treadway Creek Ravine. Treadway Creek, a tributary of the Cuyahoga River, is part of a much ignored and somewhat abused 20.4 acre woodland ravine. The ravine, which spans two-thirds of a mile, is situated between Harmody Park in Old Brooklyn (to the south) and the intersection of Crestline Avenue and Valley Road (to the north), down in the Lower Big Creek Valley.

"We feel this connection will be a wonderful asset to residents of Old Brooklyn and will set a precedent for future connections in the city," said city Parks and Recreation Director Natalie Ronayne.

The City partnered with the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) and together with leadership from (now former) Ward 15 Councilwoman Merle R. Gordon and technical assistance from Tim Donovan of Ohio Canal Corridor, applied for the funding through the Cuyahoga County Natural Resources Assistance Council. The project ranked number 1 out of 13 projects awarded grants. The assistance is being provided through State of Ohio Issue I - Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program designated for environmental conservation projects.

“This ravine has had a long history of the threat of becoming a landfill and continues to be a dumping ground. This is a unique opportunity to be able to conserve such a large tract of land, create public access to the wonderful Towpath Trail system and provide amenities for the residents of the community,” commented Councilwoman Gordon.

"The land represents one of Cuyahoga County's last remaining natural ravines that has not been completely taken over by development," stated George Cantor, a representative from the Cleveland City Planning Commission. Cantor played a lead role with OBCDC staff in preparing the successful grant application.

Tim Donovan commented on the significance of the project, stating, "This is the first piece of a Westside connection to the Towpath Trail…it's part of an evolving network of trails that will connect various communities to such important regional assets as Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, University Circle, and Edgewater Park". Donovan added, "The connections will help Cleveland's neighborhoods tell their stories and share the area's rich history in such places as Brooklyn Centre, Mill Creek, Tremont, Ohio City, the Flats and Warehouse District.”

The project complements a related initiative led by OBCDC that aims to recommend at least one additional neighborhood connection to the Harvard Avenue trailhead from Brooklyn Centre. The analysis of potential routes is anticipated to be completed by February 2004. The Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration Project is slated to be completed by late summer 2005.

Community members interested in the Treadway project are encouraged to contact OBCDC at 216-459-1000 or e-mail: info@oldbrooklyn.com.

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Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration Project Receives Approval

Wednesday, May 14th, 2003: The Cuyahoga County Natural Resources Assistance Council announced their Round 2 grant awards for the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program grants. The City of Cleveland's Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration Project received the highest ranking of the thirteen proposed projects. The project was awarded $745,316. Ten of thirteen project proposals were approved for a total of $3,628,403.

The Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration Project is a partnership between the City of Cleveland's Department of Parks, Recreation & Properties and the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation. The project seeks to acquire, restore, preserve and allow public access to 20.8 acres of prime riparian corridor and open space along Treadway Creek.

Treadway Creek is located in the southern portion of Cleveland between the city's Harmody Park to the South and Jennings Road to the North.

In addition to preserving and allowing public access to the 20.8 acres, the project will also accomplish connecting a high-density urban population to the Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor Towpath Trailhead, via the current northernmost terminus located at Harvard Road.

The Project will involve the following components:

1. Preservation of Open Space
   The Treadway Creek Ravine, like many areas in the northern industrial portion of the Cuyahoga Valley, has faced serious harm as a major landowner has proposed a construction demolition landfill in the Ravine. The Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration Project will preserve the natural Ravine and restore its natural functions.
2. Acquisition of Property & Placement of Conservation Easements
   Nine (9) key land parcels will be acquired, and combined with thirty-three (33) other land parcels controlled by the City of Cleveland representing a total of 20.8 acres. Conservation easements will be placed on all properties.
3. Field Survey, Environmental Assessment, Preferred Trail Alignment and Profile Design
   A field survey and environmental assessment as well as a study of a preferred trail alignment and profile design will be developed in preparation for executing the project.
4. Restoration & Enhancement of Natural Ecosytems
   Parcels identified for acquisition are located along an original natural water course. The project’s goals include removal of select portions of sewer line while repairing others, and creating wetland retention buffers that will assist in the restoration of natural water flow along the original streambed. Removal of invasive plants and reintroduction of native vegetation will also occur.
5. Provide Access and Linkage to Open Spaces, Natural Resources & Educational Opportunities
   The project will provide three access points for a dense urban population to a ravine that is currently used for a dumping ground for household, yard and other wastes. It will afford residents living in the upper valley neighborhood of Old Brooklyn access to the Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor’s Towpath Trail. The project will ensure the utilization of an aesthetically pleasing and ecologically informed design, thereby enabling natural resource educational programs to be conducted by local area schools, including Benjamin Franklin Elementary School (700 students, K-8, ), located only 1/3 mile from Harmody Park.
   
6. Construction of a multipurpose trail, required structures, signage and educational/interpretive wayside exhibits
   An eight-foot wide multi-purpose trail, an estimated three bridge decks, fencing and other required installations will be built in execution of the project.
7. Management of the Natural Areas, Open Spaces, Trail & Adjoining Park and Parking Lot
   The project will rely on a collaboration between various departments from within the City of Cleveland, community development, civic and Blockwatch/Trailblazer groups and programs to assist in the maintenance and preservation of the areas within the project’s scope.
8. Community Outreach and Involvement
   From the planning, design and construction stages of the project to maintaining and preserving the Greenway, ensuring community involvement and promoting stewardship will be a priority for guaranteeing a successful and sustainable project.

Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration & Trail Factsheet