Organization: OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY COALITION
Mission: OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY COALITION SEEKS TO PRESERVE, INTERPRET, AND DEVELOP THE NATURAL, HISTORICAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES ALONG THE OHIO & ERIE CANALS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. THEY ALSO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD THE 101-MILE TOWPATH TRAIL.
Activities: FOUNDED IN 1989, THE OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY COALITION (OECC) SEEKS TO PRESERVE, INTERPRET, AND DEVELOP THE NATURAL, HISTORICAL, AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES ALONG THE OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING FISHING DERBIES, TOWPATH TREK, HEALTHY STEPS, TOWPATH CENTURY RIDE, AND THE TOWPATH COMPANION, OECC BUILDS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE OHIO & ERIE CANAL AND TOWPATH TRAIL. OECC PARTNERS AND COLLABORATES WITH MORE THAN 150 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMIT, STARK, TUSCARAWAS, HARRISON, AND CUYAHOGA COUNTIES, PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONS TO CITIZENS OF NORTHEAST OHIO. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDES ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FUNDRAISING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, TRAIL AND GREENWAY PLANNING, AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. SINCE 1989, OECC HAS WORKED ON VARIOUS RESOURCE CONSERVATION PROJECTS INCLUDING THE RICHARD HOWE HOUSE RESTORATION, LIMBACH BUILDINGS IN THE VILLAGE OF CANAL FULTON, BOTH SUMMIT AND TUSCARAWAS COUNTY TRAIL & GREENWAY PLANS, AND THE BUCKHORN CREEK TRAIL DEVELOPMENT IN TUSCARAWAS COUNTY. IN 2015, OECC WAS SELECTED BY JOHN S. & JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION TO IMPLEMENT THE ITOWPATH PROJECT TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY, SAFETY, AND AESTHETICS OF THE TOWPATH TRAIL IN AKRON, OHIO. IN 2016, OECC WAS SELECTED BY THE MIAMI FOUNDATION TO RECEIVE A THREE-YEAR, 4 MILLION GRANT FOR REIMAGINING THE CIVIC COMMONS (RCC). RCC IS FOCUSED ON ENHANCING AND ACTIVATING PUBLIC SPACES TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, FOSTER VALUE CREATION, AND STIMULATE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
NTEE category: Recreation & Sports
Secondary category: Environment