The Portage Park District recently presented the Draft Portage County Parks, Trails and Greenways Plan at its final public review meeting at Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna.  Christine Craycroft, Executive Director of the Park District, started the meeting by describing the year-long planning process resulting in the current plan that joins scientific natural resources data with community input from planning meetings across the county.  The draft plan shows existing parks, trails and conserved areas, along with proposed greenway conservation corridors, off-road trails and on-road trail routes.  The final text of the plan will include identified recreation needs and criteria for siting additional parklands. 

“I’ve been told it’s an ambitious plan, but we’ve got great support in the community”, said Craycroft, “we just need to be clear about the intentions and expectations for the Plan—implementation will require partnerships at many levels.  For example, piecing together the greenway network could involve everything from voluntary private land management efforts to working with developers regarding open space set-aside, to purchase of critical natural areas by local and regional agencies and land conservation organizations.”  

The proposed trails include potential off-road multipurpose hike and bike trails along particular old railroad corridors or utility corridors, and on-road bike routes, linking communities to a variety of cultural and natural points of interest.

Also working on the planning project are the Portage County Regional Planning Commission and private consultant Charles Frederick, Landscape Architect.  The planning team is accepting comments on the draft plan until May 1^st. 

The draft is available for review here as well at the Portage County Administration Building, and the following libraries:

Aurora Memorial Library - 115 E. Pioneer Trail - Aurora, OH 44202

Portage County District Library

Garrettsville Main Branch - 10482 South Street - Garrettsville, OH 44231

Pierce Streetsboro Library - 8990 Kirby Lane - Streetsboro, OH  44241

Kent Free Library - 312 West Main Street - Kent, OH 44240

Reed Memorial Library - 167 East Main Street - Ravenna, OH 44266

Comments can be made by phone, fax, email or mail to:

Portage Park District, 128 N. Prospect Street Ravenna, OH 44266
330-297-7728 ph; 330-297-3472 fax; ccraycroft@portageparkdistrict.org. 

For more information, please contact:

Susan Blair, Administrative Assistant
Portage Park District - 128 N. Prospect Street - Ravenna, OH 44266
330-297-7728 office
330-297-3472 fax