STRUTHERS, Ohio – A once-overgrown section of the Mahoning River is now a new recreation destination as the city opened its revitalized Community River Launch.
Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller and Justin Mondok, director of planning and development for Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, discuss the grand opening of the Struthers Community River Launch and the broader effort to reconnect the city with the Mahoning River.
Cercone Miller says the project transformed a largely unused riverfront area into a place for residents, visitors and tourists to gather and access the water. The facility includes a pavilion, shelters, paddle sport lockers, restrooms and a specialized stairway with a kayak groove providing direct river access.
Mondok says the launch gives residents a new way to experience the river while adding an amenity that differs from other parks in the community. He says projects along the Mahoning River also strengthen connections among neighboring communities and demonstrate how regional collaboration can spur investment.