Trending
HOWLAND -- The Trumbull County Metroparks has approved an agreement with the GPD Group for professional engineering services addressing the Educational Highway corridor project in Champion.
The metroparks board at its meeting Thursday approved a grant agreement with Eastgate Council of Governments to cover the $12,000 costs for the engineering services.
Trumbull Metroparks Executive Director Zachary Svette said the 10% local share of the grant will be covered by Kent State University Trumbull Campus, Trumbull Career and Technical Center and the metroparks.
Svette said plans being discussed are to have a walkway or trail for walkers and runners to travel safely between the buildings off Educational Highway which include TCTC, Clarence Darrow Park, Fairhaven Workshop and Kent State University, and a possible Mercy Health building in the future. The bike trail also is in the area.
"This path would help them safely get from institution to institution. We are also looking at how to cross Route 45 to get to Dunkin Donuts and other businesses, and also Research Highway and the bike trail," he said.
Svette said he has seen people walking alongside heavy traffic on Educational Highway and does not want to see anyone hit by a car.
"There is not a lot of space to walk along there. Fairhaven officials are ecstatic with the idea since they have difficulty at times getting their students to the different locations.
"We are trying to come up with a plan to connect all the institutions and the park and how we can move nonmotorized citizens from one location to another," Svette said.
He said the plan will provide guidance.
DAM MEETING
In other business, members of the metroparks plan to attend a meeting at 1 p.m. April 9 with the Trumbull County Commissioners to discuss the Leavittsburg Dam.
The metroparks board is moving forward to have design work done this year for plans to remove the dam in 2025.
The board has approved $687,000 for the design work and will seek additional matching grant funds for the removal.
Board President Randy Fabrizio said he and other board members will attend the commissioners' meeting to address any questions by residents and officials in Warren Township who want to get the dam project halted.
"Right now, we have to get through the dam issue," board member Nicolette Darkangelo said.
Fabrizio said at the meeting he wants to get the metroparks' side of the story presented, but noted legal counsel has advised not to give comments and opinions, only facts of what is planned.
Design work will be in 2024 and demolition construction in 2025.
"If the project gets stopped for one reason or another, we have already spent money," he said.
Board member Kurt Sauer said the commissioners have approved funds for another study to be done on the dam at the request of Warren Township residents and trustees.
Sauer said the Mahoning River corridor project has five low-head dams along the river being removed.
"There can be harm and damage done if the project is not allowed to move forward," he said. "We have relied on consultants, and the best information to guide us. The plan has already been done successfully, as dams in other locations have already been removed along the Mahoning River," Sauer said.
Sauer said the consultants who have studied the river corridor and have advised the metroparks have indicated the river will be better without the low-head dams.
"Whatever is determined, it will be either to leave the dam in or take it out," board member John Brown said.
Darkangelo suggested that Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith be asked to attend the April 9 meeting.
Have an interesting stoy? Contact Bob Coupland at bcoupland@tribtoday.com.