CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Metroparks have announced the opening of the Mastick Road Connector Trail, a 1/3 mile long trail that serves as a connection from Fairview Park to Rocky River Reservation, according to a metroparks press release.

What You Need To Know

  • The Cleveland Metroparks have announced the opening of the Mastick Road Connector Trail, a 1/3 mile long trail that serves as a connection from Fairview Park to Rocky River Reservation

  • The trail can be accessed by the Eaton and Mastick Roads intersection in Fairview Park

  • The trail is 10 feet wide and includes a side-hill bridge replacement done by the county three years ago

  • The project as a whole cost $2.3 million

The trail can be accessed by the Eaton and Mastick Roads intersection in Fairview Park. Visitors can “travel into the reservation to the intersection of Valley Parkway and Mastick Road.”

“Enhancing strategic connections to our communities is at the heart of Cleveland Metroparks mission and uplifts the quality of life for residents of Northeast Ohio by fostering connections to nature,” Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman said in the release. “These accomplishments are a testament to the strong civic partnerships throughout the region.”

The trail is 10 feet wide and includes a side-hill bridge replacement done by the county three years ago. The release notes that this was just one of the many improvements done along Mastick Road via the Cuyahoga Greenways Plan that were meant to improve county trails.

In the release, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne spoke about the county’s commitment to a “more connected and vibrant community for all.”

"The opening of the Mastick Road Connector Trail is a vital link between our cities and provides greater access to our outdoor spaces,” Ronayne said in the release. “We are proud to partner with the Cleveland Metroparks on this effort, which not only enhances our multimodal vision for the County but also encourages more people to enjoy the natural beauty of our region."

The Schirmer Construction Company out of North Olmsted was responsible for constructing the trail, for which the Cleveland Metroparks received a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Clean Ohio Trails Fund. Fairview Park also brought in $125,000 in grant funding set aside for a trail crossing on Mastick Hill.

The project as a whole cost $2.3 million, according to the release.

"The Mastick Road Connector Trail is another example of positive collaboration with the City of Fairview Park, Cleveland Metroparks, and the County, which has created a better quality of life for the region,” Fairview Park Mayor Bill Schneider said in the release. “We look forward to the future and celebrating the beauty of our natural assets with all parties for many years to come. Special thanks to the staff from Cleveland Metroparks for their work getting this project to this point."