Transformative Mandel Community Trail Opens, Creating New Connection to Cleveland's Lakefront
Posted: September 23 , 2026
2.7-mile trail creates new off-road connection between E. 9th and E. 55th streets, strengthening access to Cleveland’s east side lakefront
Today, officials and community partners celebrated the opening of the Mandel Community Trail, a transformative 2.7-mile off-road connection along Cleveland’s east side lakefront between E. 9th and E. 55th streets. The new trail is a partnership between Cuyahoga County, which managed construction of the project, Cleveland Metroparks, which will manage and operate the trail, and the City of Cleveland. The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation provided a $5 million gift to Cleveland Metroparks for construction of the trail, complemented by $5.6 million in funding from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) through the Federal Highway Administration’s Carbon Reduction Program and local match funds provided by Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland.
“The Mandel Community Trail turns a missing link into a new doorstep to Cleveland’s lakefront,” said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman. “It gives people a safe, off-road way to connect from neighborhoods to our lakefront, parks, marinas and other community destinations, and it shows what we can accomplish together through partnership around a shared vision for a more connected Cleveland and lakefront.”
The 2.7-mile paved Mandel Community Trail completes a critical missing link of the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, connecting to the existing trail from E. 55th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The new trail travels along the north side of North Marginal Road and provides connections between downtown Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to lakefront destinations including E. 55th Street Marina, the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center and Gordon Park. The project also includes significant trail improvements between E. 55th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
“The Mandel Community Trail is an important part of our broader vision for a connected greenway network that links neighborhoods, residents, and destinations across Cuyahoga County,” said Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive. “By creating safe, accessible routes for walking and biking, we are expanding opportunities for people to reach the lakefront and ensure that our region’s natural and recreational assets are available to everyone.”
The new trail provides safe, accessible access to the lakefront for people walking and bicycling from the St. Clair-Superior and Glenville neighborhoods and surrounding communities. Prior to the project, pedestrians and cyclists traveling along this portion of North Marginal Road were required to share the roadway with vehicles to reach lakefront destinations on Cleveland’s east side. The Mandel Community Trail also connects to University Circle, Doan Brook and the Shaker Lakes via the regional trail network.
"The Mandel Community Trail will now provide Clevelanders access to their lakefront, to our parks and public spaces, and to the opportunities that make our city stronger. That is the kind of connectivity we are building through Cleveland ERA," said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. "This trail closes a critical gap on our east side and brings us one step closer to a Cleveland where every neighborhood has a clear path to our natural assets and to the rest of our city."
The trail is part of a broader investment in Cleveland’s east side lakefront, where the Mandel Foundation has made a significant commitment to several transformational projects. Altogether, the Foundation has committed $21 million in support for the Mandel Community Trail and additional trail improvements, enhancements to the 48-acre portion of Gordon Park south of Interstate 90 between E. 72nd Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Boathouse at the Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center. Enhancements to Gordon Park are underway following a robust public engagement process.
“The Mandel brothers’ commitment to Cleveland was rooted in the belief that strong communities are built through long-term investments that benefit future generations,” said Dr. Jehuda Reinharz, President & CEO of the Mandel Foundation. “We are proud to support a project that connects more residents to Cleveland’s lakefront while contributing to the long-term vitality of the city’s east side neighborhoods.”
The Mandel Community Trail was identified as a critical regional link in the Cuyahoga Greenways Plan, a collaborative effort to envision, plan and implement trail connections throughout Cuyahoga County that improve mobility, health, well-being and economic vitality. NOACA helped guide implementation of the regionally significant route along the Lake Erie waterfront.
“The Mandel Community Trail fills a critical gap in the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway and demonstrates how strategic transportation planning can turn a vision into reality,” said Grace Gallucci, Executive Director and CEO of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). “The need for this missing link was identified through planning studies conducted under NOACA’s Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI), helping to prioritize NOACA’s commitment of $5,684,048 in Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funds. The trail is a prime example of NOACA’s role as the region’s metropolitan planning organization—identifying critical transportation needs, prioritizing investments to address those needs, and helping move projects from planning to implementation. The result is a more connected, accessible, and safer Northeast Ohio.”
The Mandel Community Trail is part of continued investment to improve access to Cleveland’s lakefront and connect neighborhoods with parks, recreation, cultural destinations and other community assets.
For more information about the Mandel Community Trail and current project updates, visit clevelandmetroparks.com.
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About Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County is home to 1.2 million people, spans 459.8 square miles, and is comprised of 59 unique and distinctive communities. Situated along the shores of Lake Erie, the County is also home to 18 reservations that collectively make up the Cleveland Metroparks. Cuyahoga County boasts a dynamic economic environment that supports invention and innovation, along with a rich cultural landscape featuring world-class civic institutions, hospitals, libraries, museums, and the renowned Cleveland Orchestra. More information about Cuyahoga County can be found at cuyahogacounty.gov.
About Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Metroparks, recognized as one of the nation’s top park systems, spans more than 25,000 acres across 18 park reservations and over 330 miles of trails that circle the city of Cleveland in an Emerald Necklace. The Park District is also home to nine public golf courses, five nature centers, dining and retail destinations, and the award-winning Cleveland Metroparks Zoo — offering year-round recreation, conservation, and education opportunities for all.
About the City of Cleveland
The Mandel Community Trail is a cornerstone of Mayor Bibb's Cleveland ERA agenda, driving economic resurgence through industrial revival, neighborhood vibrancy, and government innovation citywide.
About the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is a transportation and environmental planning agency that represents state, county, city, village, and township officials in Greater Cleveland. NOACA addresses the transportation, air quality, and water quality needs of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties. The agency and its partners cooperatively develop and implement plans to ensure that travel throughout the region is safe, cost-effective, and environmentally sound. NOACA’s vision is to STRENGTHEN regional cohesion, PRESERVE existing infrastructure, and BUILD a sustainable multimodal transportation system to SUPPORT economic development and ENHANCE quality of life in Northeast Ohio. To learn more about NOACA, visit www.noaca.org.
About the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundations
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel established their first foundation in 1953 in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Their philanthropic legacy is continued through the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation. The work of the Foundations is grounded in the belief that exceptional leaders, inspired by powerful ideas, are key to improving society and the lives of people around the world. The Foundations have identified five areas of engagement that receive support, which include: leadership development, management of nonprofits, humanities, Jewish life and urban engagement. For more information, please visit mandelfoundation.org.