Two Future Bike Trails Could Link Akron's Former Tire Plants, Northern Summit County

Officials in Summit County are planning two more rails-to-trails projects to add to the once-bustling railroad lines that have already been transformed into park trails throughout Northeast Ohio.

The 6-mile Rubber City Heritage Trail will run along a route that once served Akron's tire companies. Starting near the old Goodyear headquarters in East Akron, it will wind through the University of Akron campus and end at the towpath trail in Kenmore.

“We're not actually proposing any trailheads on this trail. So, this is going to connect neighborhood residents with their local grocery store, schools, parks and libraries," said Dan Rice, president of the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition.

Another proposed trail along an old rail line is the 10-mile Veterans Trail, running between Hudson and Akron.

There’s no timetable for work to start, but officials with Summit Metro Parks are working with Metro RTA — which owns the tracks — to get federal approval for the project.

Metro Parks spokeswoman Lindsay Smith said it’s one of several ideas being considered.

“This would be one that we are very interested in," she said. "It's an exciting opportunity to make some additional trail connections, but there are still kind of some bigger picture things we're looking at in the county.”

Next spring, Metro Parks will begin scheduling public clean-up days along the Heritage Trail route, Rice said. For details, call 330-374-5657 or visit ohioeriecanal.org.

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