Morgana Run Trail
Years: 2008 to present

This project is part of RTC's Urban Pathways Initiative. Learn more about this work.

Location
Cleveland, Ohio

Partners
City of Cleveland City Planning Commission; City of Cleveland Department of Public Health; Slavic Village Development Corporation

Project Deliverables
Community assessment; trail access evaluation; GIS-based trail maps; trail improvement plan; local partner capacity building; trail extension feasibility study work; Safe Routes to School assistance; local signage program design and installation

NEW! Broadway/Slavic Village Morgana Run Trail Community Assessment

Case Study: Art and Urban Pathways

Trail Description
Located in several densely populated urban neighborhoods on Cleveland's southeast side, the Morgana Run Trail is a model for transportation-related activities that promote urban revitalization, enhance transportation opportunities and improve pedestrian and vehicle safety. This rail-trail, which utilizes a majority of a former Wheeling & Lake Erie Rail line, connects residents and visitors to the Cleveland Metro Parks Mill Creek Park and Trail through the Slavic Village/Broadway and Aetna-Union neighborhoods of Cleveland over to Washington Park and the new "First Tee" Golf Course.

It also connects these residents to South High School, Stella Walsh Recreation Center, Union Elementary, the new Boys & Girls Club, Cleveland Central Catholic High School, St. Stanislaus Elementary and Mound Elementary School, providing a safe and alternative route to schools and recreational facilities for the community's youth. Planning is underway to expand the existing two miles to the south another three-plus miles. These plans are being managed by Cleveland Metroparks.

Project Description
Throughout the three years of the Urban Pathways Initiative project in Cleveland RTC partnered with Slavic Village Development Corporation (SVDC), the long time well respected neighborhood Community Development Corporation. The work has delivered many new amenities to the trail and neighborhood as well as supported and expanded the existing programs and events that were already being provided. A comprehensive community assessment was performed which included in depth study of existing conditions in the neighborhood, literature review of existing study documents which can assist the community in making improvements as well as recommendations and an action plan for making these improvements.

Amenities like a neighborhood-wide wayfinding signage program were installed as were pet refuse stations along the trail. Support and expansion of existing programs such as Walk + Roll, children's bike rodeo's, Slavic Village Riding Tigers Youth Bike Camp and more were made possible through this work. A locally staffed "pop-in" bike repair and service shop was opened through support of this program as well. There was also a comprehensive three year trail user count done along Morgana Run, which showed significant increase in trail users over the three years RTC was engaged.