The section between the floor of the Little Cuyahoga River valley at North Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard parallels locks 10 to 14 which were built back-to-back to accommodate the 80-foot rise in grade over 1/4 mile.

"This is where we celebrate the real founding of Akron," said Mayor Don Plusquellic at this morning's dedication.  "When the Ohio & Erie Canal opened in 1827, this is the spot where boats took time to 'lock-through,' and their passengers and crews stopped for food and drink.  A whole city grew up around it."  The mayor noted that this section of canal is the steepest section along the canal's 300 mile length.

While the land beneath the towpath is owned by the City of Akron, the historic area is operated in conjunction with the non-profit Cascade Locks Park Association, the Ohio & Erie Canal way Coalition - - which assisted in obtaining a $250,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Metro Parks, Serving Summit County - - which maintains the towpath through Cascade Locks Park, and the National Park Service.

"Today, a bike rider is able to get on the Towpath Trail in Downtown Akron and ride all the way to the doorstep of Cleveland," said Mayor Plusquellic.  "Soon, that same rider will be able to make the trip north from Lock 2 behind Canal Park stadium."

The new trail extension was a $2.7 million investment.  In the next phase of the project, the trail will cross over Martin Luther King Boulevard and extend 4000 feet to Quaker Street.  It will generally follow the alignment of the canal, but most of the waterway south of MLK Boulevard has been covered by downtown Akron's roadways and buildings.  A subsequent third phase will pick up at Quaker Street, continue through downtown, and connect to Lock 2 Park and the existing trail.

"Just as the canal itself catapulted Akron into an era of industrial leadership in the 19^th century," said Dan Rice, president and CEO of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, "the towpath today continues to stimulate economic development."  Rice pointed to the nearby Northside Condominiums and Townhomes that will host the first vertical parade of homes in the nation opening November 24, and the new Cascade Village, which consists of subsidized and market rate housing that will replace the 1930's development called Elizabeth Park.

The area around Mustill Store that hosts walkers and bikers on the trail, is a major hub along the Canalway's Scenic Byway with the neighboring Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad bringing 20,000 passengers each year into the Northside Station on Ridge Street.

Today's opening of the trail does provide for a gravel path to Beech Street and Howard Street, but Howard Street remains closed to traffic as it is upgraded to complement the new development in the neighborhood.  Eventually, new concrete and brick sidewalks will be constructed along Beech Street to carry hikers and bikers to Martin Luther King Boulevard.

"I think what I'm proudest of is this trail's accessibility," said Keith Shy, director-secretary of Metro Parks.  "We're making it possible for people of all abilities to enjoy this beautiful area."

The trail, constructed by Akron's Cavanaugh Building Corporation is a 10-foot wide, ADA accessible asphalt path with a crushed limestone berm.  A 29-car lighted trailhead parking lot has been constructed on North Street opposite Mustill House & Store.

Virginia Wojno (VOY no) -Forney, the founder of CLPA states, "We were labeled big dreamers when we first started back in the 1980s, and never in our wildest imaginations would we have thought that the towpath would be such a spectacular connection into downtown and that so much positive growth and new housing would happen all at the same time."

The total project cost of $4.1 million includes funding ($500,000) from the Clean Ohio Trails Fund, together with the grant from Knight Foundation.