CLEVELAND, OH — Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Northeast Ohio leaders in officially unveiling a new section and park of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. The first publicly paid for section of the trail in Cleveland was made possible with $9.1 million in federal and state funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Brown was joined by, among others, former U.S. Representative Ralph Regula (OH-16) and U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-9).                       

“The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is significant to the economy of Northeast Ohio and the recreation of its citizens. This new park and trail section will improve both,” Brown said. “It is important that federal, state, and local stakeholders continue to work together to maintain the beauty and integrity of this trail.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured the northernmost six miles of the Towpath Trail. Three other stages of the trail are scheduled for completion by 2019. Today’s event featured Brown, Regula, Kaptur, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald, Cleveland Metroparks Chief Executive Officer Brian Zimmerman, and Canalway Partners Executive Director Tim Donovan.

Brown continues to fight for the protection of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. In July 2013, Brown introduced a bill that would renew the National Heritage designation of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Corridor, which includes more than 81 miles of the Towpath Trail that runs through Cuyahoga, Stark, Summit, and Tuscarawas Counties. Brown’s bill would renew the canalway’s designation as an historic landmark for an additional 10 years, thus making it eligible to receive future federal funding.

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