Herman Park Trail
Overview
Western Reserve Land Conservancy (the Land Conservancy) will be taking on a new project to enhance greenspaces in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. A vacated railroad spur located on a 0.55-acre property between Breakwater and Herman Avenues will be transformed into a public greenway trail, linking the neighborhood with both Herman Park and the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway. A generous land donation will make this project possible.
History
Railroads are a key piece of the neighborhood’s history. Once rail lines were created in the 1850s, connecting Cleveland to western cities, various industries flocked to begin manufacturing in the area. The railroad spur along Herman Park dates to the early 1900s, when it was used to allow trains to access surrounding industrial buildings. More recently, the railroad spur was acquired as part of the neighborhood’s recent residential development.
Goals
Currently, the abandoned railroad spur is overgrown and underutilized. Not only is the land inaccessible to the public, but its excessive unkempt greenery attracts litter and makes the area feel uninviting — detracting from Herman Park and the neighborhood as a whole. Seeing the area’s potential, our goal is to design and implement this new public trail in conjunction with additional park improvements. Increasing connectivity is a key priority — not only will this trail help the community connect with their natural surroundings, but it will also help residents connect with each other. Once construction is completed, the Land Conservancy will transfer ownership to the City of Cleveland.
Fundraising
Due to costs associated with the construction of the trail, private and public funding will be crucial to the completion of this project. We will be looking to connect with donors and assess public funding sources to help make Herman Park Trail possible.
Impact
The Detroit Shoreway neighborhood and nearby Gordon Square Arts District are vibrant communities that are currently undergoing significant changes. As development continues in the area, with new housing taking the places of underused factories and warehouses, increased access to greenspaces will be enjoyed by the entire community.