New 'All-Purpose' Trail Eyed in Brecksville

At some point in the near future, an “all-purpose” trail may allow hikers and bikers to walk or ride from Brecksville to Strongsville.

Already one of the best cities in Northeast Ohio to enjoy the outdoors, Brecksville could soon get an upgrade.

Brecksville City Council recently agreed to apply for a couple of federal grants in partnership with the city of Broadview Heights and the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District for a trail that would connect the city to other trails in other communities. 

The MetroParks is taking the lead on the grant applications.

“The city of Brecksville is enthusiastically supporting this project as it will afford our city Blossom Hill Property to connect to this trail,” said Brecksville mayor Jerry Hruby. “(It’s) a trail which will then make possible use from the National Park in Cuyahoga Valley to Broadview Road.”

Hruby added that the eventual goal is to connect the National Park “all the way” to Strongsville with the unpaved, asphalt trail. 

“It is a great thing for our communities and the parks,” he added. 

If the grants are OK’d, the city of Brecksville’s share of the cost would be $100,000 and the MetroParks picking up $200,000 of the cost. 

The trail would start in Brecksville. If approved, Broadview Heights would pay for the second phase of the project.