EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – A nearly $6 million project aimed at eventually linking a bike trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie officially kicked off Wednesday with a naming and fundraising event.
The local trail, which will end near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line, will be named the East Liverpool Heritage Trail and encompass the downtown and Broadway Wharf area, Broadway Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, with views of the hilly valley and Ohio River along its route.
The project harkens to 2019 when the East Liverpool Community Partnership for Revitalization reached out to former city native Tom Chema, discussing what attractions could be brought to the city.
According to ELCPR board member Drew Cooper, who addressed those in attendance at the Museum of Ceramics, the idea of a bike trail was agreed upon then and now. “We’re at a critical moment where this is really going to happen,” he said.
With an estimated project cost of $5.6 million, Cooper said ELCPR has held various community events and accepted local donations to raise funds for the cost of a feasibility study.
“If we had tried to do that on our own, this project probably would have died in 2020,” Cooper said.
Although the past two administrations were reportedly on board, a formal agreement was reached with City Council in 2022 to move ahead with the project, and the Environmental Design Group was retained to assist in locating grant funding for the project.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has awarded $1.7 million in grant funding for the project, with $40,000 also donated by Norfolk Southern Railway.
The ELCPR must come up with $185,000 in local matching funds to secure the grant funding.
Another donor is America 250, which contributed $25,000 in relation to the city being the official Point of Beginning, where surveyors in 1785 began mapping the new United States with the first federal land survey.
Speaking on behalf of America 250 was Todd Kleismit, executive director, who said he had hoped America 250 could be the start of the bike trail project with the donation.
“I’m really pleased this is coming along and we could be some part of it,” Kleismit said.
America 250 is an initiative observing the country’s 250th birthday next year, and East Liverpool was named an America 250 city.
Kleismit said next year’s celebration is a national effort to bring people together and tout what Ohio can do, pointing out there are 76 national landmarks in America, one of which is the Point of Beginning in East Liverpool.
East Liverpool is also recognized on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Meriwether Lewis passed through the city in 1803 en route to meet William Clark. A century later, the city was one of those celebrated in 1915 with the start-up of the Lincoln Highway. Henry Osterman, public relations director for the highway project, was a city native.
These events led to ELCPR incorporating “historic” into the trail’s official name.
Mayor Bobby Smith admitted he was not an advocate of a bike trail at first, but “things are changing [in the city],” he said. “The bike trail will foster all that. Going around the state, I see what it’s doing for other communities.”
According to information provided by ELCPR, bike and walking trails are proven catalysts for economic growth, with trails across the country having increased business revenue and property values; sparked new restaurants, cafes, lodging and entertainment; attracted heritage tourism and outdoor recreation communities; and revitalized historic downtown districts and connected communities.
“It takes a community effort, and it will pave the way for more projects to come,” said Stu Wallace, ELCPR executive director. “We need everyone to understand the impact it can have on the town.”
The East Liverpool Heritage Trail will ultimately become the southern anchor of the Great Ohio Lake-to-River Greenway Trail, stretching from Lake Erie to the Ohio River.
The route is part of the Industrial Heartland Trails Network (iHeart Trails) encompassing more than 1,500 miles of interconnected paths linking Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York.
The proposed 17-mile connection from Lisbon to East Liverpool will complete this long-term vision, which will enable cyclists to ride from Lake Erie to the Point of Beginning.
Cooper said the initial phase of the Heritage Trail should take two to three years, and the entire project could require as many as 10.
Also announced Wednesday was the creation of the Friends of the East Liverpool Heritage Trail, which Cooper said will serve as the voice, hands and heart of the project, working with local and state partners to advocate, organize and oversee the trail from construction to long-term care.
“Together, we’ll turn this trail from a plan into a landmark – a legacy our children and grandchildren can enjoy,” he said.
Board members are Autumn Carnegie, president; Joe Lawhorn, vice president; and Samantha Kinemond, interim treasurer.
Fundraising tier levels are trail supporter, $1,000; trail friend, $2,500; trailblazer, $5,000; groundbreaker, $10,000; and legacy, $25,000.
Donations can be made by check, payable to ELCPR with “bike trail” in the memo field, and mailed to 119 E. Fifth Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920; at Venmo@ELCPR; or at DowntownEastLiverpool.com.
All donations are tax deductible.
Pictured at top: The Ohio River will be part of the view for those using the East Liverpool Heritage Trail.