BLACK RIVER TRAIL

LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS - ELYRIA, OHIO 

For more than twenty years, Behnke has worked with the Lorain County Metro Parks on the planning, design, and construction of the Black River Trail.  Once completed, the trail will span approximately 12 miles to connect the Northcoast Inland Trail (Elyria, Ohio) to Lake Erie (Lorain, Ohio).  One of the trail’s unique features is a series of bridges that stretch over one-half mile in length.  Approximately 6 miles have been constructed to date.

In conjunction with the trail, Behnke developed a master plan for the 800-acre Black River Reservation.  13 months after the start of the master planning process, Phase I of the trail and reservation improvements opened, and has become the most-used park in the district.  Facilities in the reservation include:

• 5 miles of the all-purpose recreational trail.

• 3,000 feet of bridges (6 river and creek crossings)

• Day use areas

• Shelters and restrooms

• Roads and parking.

Construction Cost:  $2 Million