EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – The first two phases of the East Liverpool Heritage Bike Trail are about to step off.
The city and the East Liverpool Community Partnership for Revitalization have been working for years to develop the East Liverpool Heritage Bike Trail, and a community information session is set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Museum of Ceramics, 400 E. Fifth St., to share details about the project’s vision, progress and next steps.
Friends of the Heritage Trail, a volunteer leadership group, has been created as part of the vision.
The Heritage Bike Trail will link the riverfront, downtown and the city’s eastern border at the Ohio-Pennsylvania line, celebrating East Liverpool’s role as “Where America Took Shape – The Point of Beginning for a Nation that Grew, Explored, and Connected.”
Designed in coordination with the Greenway Trail System, the project will help complete the Lake-to-River Greenway Trail, connecting Lake Erie to the Ohio River.
Environmental Design Group, an Ohio trail and community planning firm, completed the initial feasibility study for the project in 2019 and continues to serve as the engineering, design and strategic funding coordinator for the Heritage Bike Trail.
“This initiative represents collaboration and vision,” said Drew Cooper, co-founder and board member of the East Liverpool Community Partnership for Revitalization. “Together with the city and our partners, we’re building something that connects our history to our future – and our community to the wider region.”
Councilman John Mercer said the trail has been years in the making and involved the dedication of many people and city administrations.
“The Heritage Bike Trail will honor our past, promote recreation and strengthen East Liverpool’s place within the Lake-to-River network,” he said.
Beyond recreation, the Heritage Bike Trail is expected to be an economic driver, attracting visitors from across the region and country. By connecting heritage sites, riverfront destinations and the downtown district, the trail is expected to stimulate local business growth, expand tourism and generate lasting economic impact for East Liverpool and the surrounding area.
The Friends of the Heritage Trail will shepherd the project as the central community group working with the city, EDG and regional partners. The group will lead engagement, outreach, advocacy and fundraising. Members also will drive a fundraising campaign to secure community funds necessary to leverage state and federal matching grants. The group operates as a subsidiary of ELCPR, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, allowing all donations and contributions to be tax-deductible.