Lake Metroparks prepares to open first phase of Lakefront Trail this spring
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce on March 14 hosted government officials from its communities to provide details on major projects for 2024 and cite accomplishments from 2… Lake Metroparks is preparing to open the first phase of the Lakefront Trail, a new trail along the Lake Erie shoreline. The trail will start at Painesville Township Park and extend west for 2,300 feet, and is expected to be open in early April. The paved trail will be accessible to walkers and includes benches and shaded areas. The park district's Executive Director, Paul Palagyi, also discussed the upcoming Hemlock Ridge Park, which will sit on properties north of Interstate 90 and south of the Grand River in Concord and Leroy townships. Additional phases will be completed in the coming years, with Palagya noting that the park district is working to complete additional phases in the future.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Bryson Durst in
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce on March 14 hosted government officials from its communities to provide details on major projects for 2024 and cite accomplishments from 2023. This is one in a series of articles detailing the speeches that were given.
With spring underway, Northeast Ohio residents looking to spend time outdoors will soon have access to a new trail along the Lake Erie shoreline.
Lake Metroparks officials are preparing to open the first phase of the Lakefront Trail, which will start at Painesville Township Park and extend west for 2,300 feet. Park district Deputy Director Vince Urbanski said on March 25 that it will probably be open in early April.
Executive Director Paul Palagyi discussed the trail during the March 14 Eastern Lake County Chamber of Commerce Community Reps Update breakfast.
“We are in the process of building a trail unlike anything else we’ve had, and I will say unlike anything else on the Great Lakes,” he said.
The paved trail will be Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible and will include benches and shaded areas, Palagyi previously said. It will run west from the ramp leading to the pier at Painesville Township Park, which is located at 1025 Hardy Road.
The nearly 0.44-mile stretch is the first phase of an envisioned two-and-a-half mile trail between Painesville Township Park and Fairport Harbor. Palagyi said that the park district will work to complete additional phases in the coming years, and it is talking with leaders in Painesville City and Fairport Harbor about connecting into their communities.
The park district accepted a trail easement for the first two phases in 2022.
Palagyi also used the breakfast to discuss the upcoming Hemlock Ridge Park. It will sit on properties north of Interstate 90 and south of the Grand River in Concord and Leroy townships.
He said that the park district is working to add a driveway running west into the park from Vrooman Road.
“I hope by the end of the summer we’ll have public access into that,” Palagyi said. “But it’s going to be a little weird because it’s going to be public access into a 600-acre property with no trails.”
“Eventually over several years we’re going to be building trails into that, which will be a really nice amenity on 600 acres,” he later added.