Cleveland’s waterways: access, economics, and investments
The Port Authority is responsible for maintaining the port’s waterways and facilities, encouraging importers and exporters to use its facilities, and driving economic development through financial and real estate investments. Learn from Will Friedman (LC 2012), President & CEO, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, how they working to advance their mission, increase port usage and lake access, and the unique challenges they faced during the pandemic.

https://www.cleveleads.org/event/the-way-forward-leader-lunch-break-will-friedman/

“We have exciting updates to share and need your input on next steps! Join the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission for a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, July 13, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.” The Cuyahoga County Lakefront Public Access Plan aims to build a comprehensive vision for better connecting our residents to our Great Lake.

County Planning virtual public meeting #2 website: https://www.countyplanning.us/projects/cuyahoga-county-lakefront-public-access-plan/

WCPN story: https://wcpn.ideastream.org/news/cuyahoga-county-holding-public-meeting-on-lakefront-plans

Spectrum News OH 1 story: https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/cleveland/news/2021/07/09/cuyahoga-county-s-lakefront-public-access-plan

For an tangible example of the benefits of the Lakefront Access Plan, check out our blog post on the City of Euclid’s Waterfront Improvement Project that was a “walkshop”: during the Industrial Heartland and Cleveland Trails Conference: http://sharetheriver.com/blog/2021/6/10/day-three-of-industrial-heartland-amp-cleveland-trails-summit-euclid-waterfront-walkshop

In collaboration with Share the River, the Port of Cleveland, and Nalu Standup Paddle & Surf's Paddle and Pints, Surfrider-Lake Erie is hosting a clean-up on the Cuyahoga River  There are opportunities to help with the clean up from your board or kayak or on land. We will have a quick meeting before we head out for our clean up.

Our goal is to clean up the river and the green space between the Carter Rd. Bridge and Merwin's Wharf/Cleveland Rowing Foundation before the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta on September 15. There will be teams traveling from nine states including Michigan, New York and Indiana to this major recreational event.

We will have buckets, bags and gloves. We encourage you to bring your own gloves, nets, or any other device to help pick up the trash from the water.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2128901730770369

You're invited to the 2nd Annual Share the River Ramble, a 3.3-mile connect-the-dots, run/walk of the Cuyahoga River riverfront trail segments  Rivers and trails are the arteries that connect people and communities to their natural resources. The Ramble physically connects people to the evolving transformation of Cleveland's riverfront that in some ways is unrecognizable from that June 22 day in 1969. 

We're grateful to our supporting sponsors who have helped make the Expanded Ramble and Blazing Paddles a possibility:

• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District: "‘Given our role in helping to improve the health of the Cuyahoga River, we’re excited to be part of this celebration. Plus, we’re happy to support an event that connects people to our water resources."
• Fat Head's Brewery is our official brewery partner.
• Canalway Partners: "We're pleased the Share the River Ramble is serving as one of the kick-off events for the inaugural Cleveland History Days, "10 Days and 20 Ways to Experience Cleveland’s History". More information is at http://canalwaypartners.com/events/clevelandhistorydays/
• Ohio City Inc.: "Ohio City Incorporated is working with partners to tie together a growing network of trails and connecting people to the riverfront through Irishtown Bend, and we are thrilled to support the Share the River Ramble which celebrates one of our regions greatest assets, the Cuyahoga River."

We're also partnering again with North Coast Mutli Sports Inc. to stage the Ramble.  Our charity partner is St. Malachi Parish. Cleveland Rowing Foundation (CRF) is our site partner.

You made the 1st Annual Ramble such a success that we're adding a music and beer event at CRF/Rivergate Park where participants can connect with Share the River partner organizations, Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie stakeholders. Fat Head's Brewery is the Ramble's brewery partner and they are excited to support an event that celebrates an important turning point in Cleveland history. We're also teaming up with Nalu Standup Paddle & Surf to host Blazing Paddles, a stand-up paddleboard race on Saturday, June 23.

Stay tuned for more details. The Ramble's intent is to encourage the public to enjoy their natural resources, parks, and paths but it's also intended to provide a focus on several themes central to Share the River's "branding Cleveland as a waterfront city" mission:

• the importance and demonstrable impact of common sense environmental regulations
• the value of public investments in clean water infrastructure (like NEORSD's Project Clean Lake).
• the positive impact of engaged, long-term recreational use of the Cuyahoga River
• the benefit the above three have on Cleveland's appeal 1) as a city where people want to work, live and play in and 2) as a tourism destination.

Save the date, register, and invite your friends! Click on the below link and register for the Share the River Ramble now! Would you like to be part of the team that's making this year's Ramble an event to remember? Register to be a volunteer or serve on one of our committees!

And if you are a business, organization, foundation or individual who sees the branding value of the Ramble, we are in the process of securing sponsors! We are a full-blown experiential marketing event with an engaged social media presence and following. Please e-mail us at sharetheriver3@gmail.com. 

If you're on Facebook, click on this link to let your friends know you're going and then invite your friends to the Cuyahoga River Party!

Inaugural Ramble Media Links

• Plain Dealer (Steve Litt) - First standup paddle race on Cuyahoga, Blazing Paddles, to showcase shipping and recreation sharing river
• WKYC (Dawn Kendrick) - Exploring Cleveland's "Rails to Trails"
• Plain Dealer (Steve Litt) - Share the River plans "Burning River Ramble" Thursday to mark 48th anniversary of Cuyahoga fire (photos, video)
• WCPN/Sound of Ideas (Mike McIntyre) - Burning River Ramble Commemorates 48th Anniversary Of Fire
• Plain Dealer (Joshua Gunter) - Inaugural Burning River Ramble brings runners to Cuyahoga River (photo essay)
• Plain Dealer (Zach Lewis) - Fresh glimpses of city reward effort in inaugural 'Burning River Ramble' (photos): Stretching Out
• WCPN/Sound of Ideas (Mike McIntyre) - Learning to Fail (Burning River Ramble portion comes up at 28:10 in the show)

The Red Line Greenway is an active project to create a 3 mile elevated linear park in the heart of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. This meeting hosted by Cleveland Metroparks at Hoopples Restaurant & Bar (1930 Columbus Rd, Cleveland, OH 44113) will provide insight to community members on proposed development concepts. http://www.ohiocity.org/event/redline-greenway-community-meeting

Recent Stories on the Red Line Greenway

Cleveland Metroparks completes funding for Red Line Greenway with $500k state grant. http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2017/10/cleveland_metroparks_completes.html

Red Line Greenway gets a boost from volunteers. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/04/red_line_greenway_gets_a_boost.html

Big dreams start to become reality for three miles of elevated urban trail. http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/RLGupdate083016.aspx

Red Line Greenway advocates plan 'unveiling' of visionary concept at Wednesday meeting. http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2015/05/red_line_greenway_advocates_pl.html

Just a Reminder that the Cool Red Line Greenway Project is Still a Long Way Off. https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/06/01/just-a-reminder-that-the-cool-red-line-greenway-project-is-still-a-long-way-off

Our first annual Burning River Ramble is a fun, no fee, 4.8 mile running/walking tour of Cleveland's evolving waterfront on the June 22 anniversary of the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire. The route (still in progress) is designed to connect property segments that have either recently changed to a park/paved path or are being considered for such (Irishtown Bend). Our hope for the Ramble's iconic route is to physically connect people to the great things happening along Cleveland's Cuyahoga River.

The Burning River Ramble will start near the Columbus Road Bridge and finish between the Cleveland Foundation Boathouse and Cleveland Metropark's Merwin's Wharf. Ramble participants can then enjoy food/drinks at Merwin's Wharf, Hoopples, Sainato's Pizza/Rivergate Tavern or Brick & Barrel Brewing (the Ramble's official post-Ramble hydration location!). We're pleased to be partnering with Run Wild CLE on the Burning River Ramble and we look forward to seeing you on June 22! Invite your friends as the more the merrier! Here's the Facebook Invite https://www.facebook.com/events/214919659018963/. 

Due to rising interest in the Ramble we encourage participants to ride RTA, bikes (maybe rent a UH Bikes) or take an Uber in so we can minimize the impact of parking on the neighborhood. Questions? E-mail us at sharetheriver3@gmail.com

Ramble Route Note: Our addition of the north segment of the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail adds about a mile to the Ramble route. Ramble participants looking to shorten their effort can simply cut that segment out of their route!

Still on the fence? Here's a POV look at the Burning River Ramble route!

Burning River Ramble Route

A week before the Ramble some friends did a dry run of the route to help us spot potential gaps in our signage/volunteer coverage. By all accounts they had a fun time (even if they got a little wet) and several said "That's a fun course! We had no idea some of this was out here!"

The Cleveland Rowing Foundation's Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta (HOTC) provides a unique opportunity for high school, collegiate and adult competition from around the country to navigate the challenging turns of the crooked river over a 4800 meter course. Event details: http://www.clevelandrows.org/head-of-the-cuyahoga-regatta/

Western Reserve Rowing Association's season ending championship regatta for Summer Rowing League is Saturday, August 22nd, from 8 am - 3pm at Cleveland Rowing Foundation. After you've checked out the fun you can wander over to Cleveland Metroparks' Merwin's Wharf for a bite and a drink on the Cuyahoga River. Event details are at http://www.westernreserverowing.com/news/final-srl-regatta/ 

Get your paddleboard on as Nalu Standup Paddle & Surf and Cleveland Metroparks team up to host the 2nd Annual Whiskey Island Stand Up Paddleboard Race & Festival. After racing concludes the festival will have demos, fun races, music & door prizes. Event info is at http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/EventsProgramsCalendar/Whiskey-Island-Stand-Up-Paddleboard-Race-Festival--6413.aspx