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River rapids surrounded by lush green vegetation and a bridge in the background.

Civic Engagement Comment Summary Report, Project: Stabilize Riverbank at High Priority Areas along Towpath Trail and Valley Railway


Cuyahoga Valley National Park would like to thank the public and park partners who provided valuable input about the Cuyahoga Riverbank Stabilization Project. This input has been shared with the project team, project designers, and comments are being considered as the design and development of the streambank stabilization locations continue to be refined for construction.

The National Park Service (NPS) requested input from the public about the Cuyahoga Riverbank Stabilization Project from December 10, 2021 through January 10, 2022, and provided information online through a StoryMap. Correspondence was received via two platforms: 1) project website comment form, and 2) social media posts comments.

The Civic Engagement Comment Summary Report summarizes the process that was used to identify the issues raised, viewpoints communicated, and suggestions provided by the public. Each correspondence was broken into individual comments, addressing a single subject. Then, comments were broken into specific codes, grouping comments centered on a common topic of subject matter. Finally, each code was broken into topic statements, grouping specific issues raised by the comments within each code; intended to sub-classify the comments within each code.

The most repeated topic statements received via the project website comment form were: support for the project purpose or need; a desire to use natural methods of bank stabilization; support for the proposed bank stabilization measures; and, the suggestion to include river access for kayakers and/or anglers in the design. The most repeated project-related topic statements received via the social media posts comments were: a desire to use natural methods of bank stabilization; proposing to move the Towpath Trail instead of bank stabilization measures; support for the project and protecting the Towpath Trail; recommending the use of gabion baskets, stone, and/or stream barbs in the design; incorporating kayak access in the design; and, suggestion that a civil engineer and/or hydrologist should determine the bank stabilization design solution.

About the Project
The Cuyahoga Riverbank Stabilization Project involves bank stabilization activities along eight sections of the Cuyahoga River within Summit and Cuyahoga Counties in Ohio. The project proposes to protect portions of two linear historic districts affected by the migration of the Cuyahoga River channel: 1) the Valley Railway Historic District which includes the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad; and 2) the Ohio and Erie Canal Historic District which includes the Towpath Trail, a portion of which is a National Historic Landmark.
 
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