RECAP: 2022 Mini-Conference (Sept. 21-22)
COMPLETE INFO >> DOWNLOAD FULL AGENDA
VIRTUAL SESSIONS – RECORDED PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE
- SLIDES
Opening Remarks — Mary Cierebiej, AICP, Executive Director, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission
Planning, Designing, & Funding Projects for All: ODOT’s Plan for Walking & Biking in Ohio.
Introduced Ohio’s first statewide pedestrian and bicycle plan: Walk.Bike.Ohio, the vision, goals and progress. Included: the 2021 Multimodal Design Guide; some of ODOT’s largest funding sources for standalone bicycle and pedestrian projects; and relevant information pertaining to the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.
Presenters:
Jeremy Thompson, Safety Engineer, Ohio Department of Transportation
Jordan Whisler, Statewide Planning Manager, Ohio Department of Transportation
Caitlin Harley, SRTS & Active Transportation Manager, Ohio Department of Transportation - Using Social Media to Increase Trail Support and Use.
Learned about successful posts, managing public comments, widening audiences and the importance of being out on the trails. Learned also about the IHTC Photo Library.
Presenters:
Meghan Tinker Paynter, Director of Communications, Canalway Partners
Devyn Giannetti, Senior Communications Specialist, Cuyahoga County
Kathryn Kerber, Project Manager, City of Bay Village
Kelly Pack, Senior Director of Trail Development, Rails to Trails Conservancy
- SLIDES
Opening Remarks — Grace Gallucci, Executive Director & CEO, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and NOACA's Regional Funding Strategy
The session covered what's in the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (the IIJA), and how communities and organizations can work with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), to advance trail planning and projects.
Presenters:
Bev Burtzlaff, Manager of Government Affairs, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
Jim Thompson, Interim Manager of Capital Programs, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency - SLIDES
County-Wide Sign Plan
In 2017, Destination Cleveland saw the need for consistent, high-quality wayfinding on the off-road trails which were about to converge in Downtown Cleveland. A working group developed a system, completed in 2021 and adopted by the City of Cleveland, to guide residents and visitors of all abilities to key destinations along the off-road trail systems within Cleveland and other parts of the region. The working group continues to refine the plan and seek adoption from other municipalities and implementation on more trails.
Presenters:
Alex Harnocz, Director of Destination Development, Destination Cleveland
Sara Byrnes Maier, Principal Planner, Cleveland Metroparks
AFTERNOON MOBILE WORKSHOPS
- Nord Family Greenway Walking Tour
Begun as a project to ease pedestrian transit between Case Western Reserve University’s main and west campuses, the 15-acre Nord Family Greenway offers open-air spaces suited to performances, picnics and even quiet contemplation. Most of all, it is a permanent, living invitation to those beyond University Circle to explore not only the greenway itself but the dozens of arts and cultural institutions that fill the roughly square-mile district. The landscape includes a swath of walkways, stairs, picnic terraces, and quaint views. Participate in this walking tour to learn more about the partnership between Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Museum of Art to create one of the largest new parks in recent Cleveland history.
Leaders:
Christopher Panichi, Director of Planning, Design & Construction, Case Western Reserve University
Rick Pruden, Project Manager, Planning, Design & Construction, Case Western Reserve University - Euclid Creek Reservation Trails
The session covered trail projects for Euclid Creek Reservation, one of 18 reservations within the Park District. The Eastern Ledge Trail connects a recent expansion of the reservation to the existing trail network and includes a paved all purpose trail along a portion of the newly acquired land along with natural surface trails and/or boardwalks to connect across to the Welsh Woods Picnic Area across a new suspension bridge over Euclid Creek. The Euclid Creek Greenway connects the lower portion of the reservation to its lakefront portion. The greenway is broken up in several phases, and Phase 1 began construction in 2022 additional phases will be included in a federal RAISE Planning grant project.
Leaders:
Sean McDermott, Chief Planning & Design Officer, Cleveland Metroparks
Sara Byrnes Maier, Principal Planner, Cleveland Metroparks - Bike Tour: Public Space Improvements along the Cleveland Cultural Gardens
On this bike tour: the Harrison Dillard Bikeway through the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Along the way are stops at 3-4 locations for experts to share information on several greenspaces and plans to improve them in the future. Barriers to accessing the greenspaces as a cyclist or pedestrian highlighted.
Leader:
Jacob VanSickle, Executive Director, Bike Cleveland
CEUs – OPRA: up to .4 CEU's through the Ohio Park and Recreation Association for virtual sessions. Please contact Dan Sahli at dbs2@clevelandmetroparks.com for complete information. APA: AICP CM credits available.
WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?? Between the Biennials: a Mini-Conference event
Recognizing the value of trails and greenways, decision makers, planners, practitioners, and trail advocates from around Greater Cleveland convene biennially to share ideas, discover new tools, and set the stage to transform plans and concepts into successfully completed projects. See information about the last Biennial in 2021 here. Planning for the next Biennial will begin soon.
Meanwhile, we had information and projects of such value that we thought we would share RIGHT AWAY! We aim to host these focused, information and training sessions in the year between, the "alt-biennial." We think it's always good to gather (even virtually) and besides, it's FREE!
If you/your agency are interested in helping plan the next Biennial Conference, let us know.
With the continued uncertainties posed by the coronavirus, air quality alerts, or whatever comes along we continue to adopt all necessary precautions. We appreciate your steadfast interest in advancing the trail and bikeway network of Greater Cleveland and hope you are able to keep in touch with GCTGC by attending this hybrid virtual/in-person gathering. We also hope that, in a safe and healthy manner, you'll continue exploring and enjoying the trails of our region.