2018 OECA Strategic Initiatives Awardees

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad – Restroom Restoration Project
Awarded $25,000
The restroom restoration project will include the following activities: (1) repair and restoration of the functionality of the Hand Washing sinks, including water heating systems; and (2) repair of toilet system functionality. We estimate the work to be complete by December 2018. Anticipated operating outcomes include increased ridership; sufficiently cover operating expenses with earned and contributed income; expended program offerings; and sustained relationship building efforts with our community partners. There are 8 cars included in the restroom restoration project. The work in 2018 will result in CVSR having fully functional restrooms - with running water - in five (5) coach cars on the National Park Scenic consist. A road trip excursion aboard the National Park Scenic is 3.5 hours long, passengers will likely need to use the facilities and functional restrooms are a necessity for passengers comfort.

Canalway Partners – Cleveland History Days
Awarded $10,000
Funds will help to fund new Heritage Promotion of Canalway History through a series of programs and events that focus on Cleveland History – all events within boundary of Canalway Heritage Area.   This is inaugural year of annual program.  This program is a partnership effort with a number of organizations, including Historic Gateway Neighborhood, Ukranian Museum, and Share the River.

Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation – Take a Hike (2019 Season)
Awarded $10,000
To support the Take a Hike Heritage Tourism Program in Downtown Cleveland and grow the program into other towns/cities along the Canalway through the affiliate program, which is in the planning stages. The award-winning Take a Hike program currently offers interpretive programming in five historically significant Downtown Cleveland neighborhoods, including Canal Basin Park in the Flats, the Warehouse District, Gateway District, Civic Center and Playhouse Square.

Slavic Village Development – Pershing Overlook
Awarded $49,467
Construct a destination overlook at the end of Pershing Ave. This will be an accessible destination for bikers and hikers that sits at the end of Pershing Ave overlooking the industrial valley. Formerly the entrance point of the Clark Avenue Bridge, this dead-end vacant space is being underutilized. This project will clear out neglected debris such as fractured concrete pads, mangled fences, and rogue vegetation to help rehabilitee the space.

Cleveland Metroparks – Scranton Road Habitat Restoration Phase II
Awarded $10,000
In 2014, a ⅔ mile stretch of the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail opened in the City of Cleveland adjacent to Scranton Road and the Cuyahoga River, in addition to construction of the paved trail, the project also involved habitat restoration along and in the river. The habitat improvements were designed to increase fish spawning habitat, increase tree canopy cover, and provide additional native habitat for birds and insects species. Unfortunately, the in-water vegetation did not survive. In 2017, with funds from Ohio & Erie Canalway Association, Cleveland Metroparks installed a floating wetland and emergent/submerged aquatic plantings within and along the ship channel of the Cuyahoga River. This served as a test of durability and survivability as habitat restoration techniques in an urban river environment. Cleveland Metroparks requests funds for a second phase of the project to fund additional floating wetlands and emergent/submerged aquatic plantings to further improve habitat in the Cuyahoga River.

University Circle, Inc. - Cozad-Bates House Interpretive Center
Awarded $50,000
The funds will be used for the adaptive reuse of the historic Cozad-Bates House as an interpretive center highlighting the area’s role in the Underground Railroad and antebellum antislavery movement. The center will be located on the conjoined ground floor of the 1853 and 1860s portions of the house, and will include two interpretive spaces (East and West Wing), the KeyBank Community Room, and an accessible restroom. Two porches will be restored as entrances to the space, one of which will be constructed with an accessible entry ramp. UCI has engaged the Western Reserve Historical Society as our interpretive partner to develop thoughtful exhibits that will uncover the past, while engaging the present. The project will also transform an existing pathway from Mayfield Road into an interpretive walkway that combines art and landscape to further highlight the people and places of the Underground Railroad network in Cleveland.

Summit Metro Parks - Summit Lake Shelter
Awarded $50,000
The grant funds will be used to design and construct an outdoor shelter at summit Lake. The Shelter will be approximately 1000 square feet with views toward the lake. The Park district will look at alternatives to keep the cost down and still provide the public with a great new amenity.

Conservancy for Cuyahoga National Park - Retail Product Development: 50th Anniversary of Cuyahoga River Burning and Historical Cleveland-Akron Bag Co.
Awarded $20,000
To develop unique educational and commemorative products for the anniversary of the burning of the Cuyahoga River in June of 1969. This event-along with other similar events across the country served as a catalyst for the amendment of the 1948 federal Water Pollution Control Act that became the Clean Water Act of 1972. The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of this significant event and will include items that focus on the historic Cleveland-Akron Bag Company at the site of the new Cuyahoga Valley National Park Boston Mill Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is slated to open in 2019 at the same time as the kickoff of the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Cuyahoga River fire. The Burning River products developed will be sold in the Conservancy’s three retail locations: the new Boston Mill Visitor Center, Trail Mix Peninsula, and Trail Mix Boston. In addition, the Conservancy will make available by Wholesale the Burning River products to other parks and retail establishments in the Ohio & Erie Canal Corridor. Cleveland-Akron Bag Co. products will primarily be sold at the new Boston Mill Visitor Center to connect visitors to this unique canal era business and its impact as an economic driver and innovative company during that time period. As part of this program, as with our existing retail stores, the Conservancy will allocate any profits from the sale of these items to Cuyahoga Valley National Park toward initiatives that protect, preserve, and enhance the park.

City Of Massillon - Lincoln Way Pedestrian Bridge Replacement
Awarded $50,000
Replace the fabricated steel truss pedestrian bridge crossing over State Route 21 along the north side damaged by a raised truck bed on the southbound side of SR 21, damaging members and causing water infiltration, leading to freeze/thaw damage. Additionally, the bridge is near the end of its service life. The bridge will restore the connection between the city and the trail path users.

City of Canal Fulton - McLaughlin Dry Dock Bridge Repair
Awarded $2,866
To make necessary repairs to the McLaughin Dry Dock Bridge over the Ohio & Erie Canal. The bridge framework to be repaired will be fabricated at a welding shop and transported and installed on existing post/structure. The wood decking will be replaced.