Missed The Rails-To-Trails City Hall In Solon? Catch-up [Video]

SOLON, OH — Mayor Ed Kraus has lamented before the lack of an iconic downtown Solon development, replete with restaurants and even idyllic walking paths for residents and visitors. He's also stated that one of the goals of his administration is to create a new downtown for the city, a vision he repeated at the April 23 City Hall meeting to discuss the rails-to-trails project.

"What are the two postcards in Solon? The vacant Sears site and the Solon Motel," he said. "So now, as partners, all of us here, it's time that Solon get out of the mud. We've been stuck in the mud for a long time."

He said he wants to re-imagine the Sears site, whether that be with a microbrewery or amphitheater or something else entirely. As that area gets redeveloped, Kraus believes new trails could enhance the site and create a thriving downtown.

"We need to create a boulevard and we need to do that on SOM Center and Aurora Road," he said.

Rob Frankland, director of planning for Solon, then explained the city's Master Plan. During his presentation, he noted that residents have consistently asked for better walkability and more trails throughout the city.

Details on the Project

Notably, the city has not yet approved the proposed trail connecting Chagrin Falls and Solon. Resident input is being sought.

As Patch previously reported, the project would cost approximately $998,416, according to an application to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The city has requested funding help to the tune of $499,208 from ODNR and has been designated to receive $300,000 from the state under its Capital Budget program.

Frankland said the city will not know if it will receive ODNR funding until approximately October.

The two mile connector trail would be for pedestrians and bicyclists only, with no motorized vehicles allowed, according to the city's application for the trail. The trail would start at SOM Center Road, in downtown Solon, and continue east along the former Chagrin Falls and Southern Railroad right of way to a point just south of the Village of Bentleyville border.

"There are possible linkages between downtown Solon and downtown Chagrin Falls," Frankland said.

The application further states that "Completition of this project would potentially place the north and south arms of the "Solon to Chagrin Falls Trail" within approximately 1/3 mile of each other and would significantly advance the longstanding goal of achieving a continuous trail connection between downtown Solon, the Village of Bentleyville, downtown Chagrin Falls and the larger region."

The east end of the trail would be about 1/3 mile from the South Chagrin Reservation, which is operated by the Cleveland Metroparks.

A map detailing the location of the connector trail can be seen here. To view the city's application to ODNR, click here.

Photo from Shutterstock