Pepper Pike Paves the Way! Multi-Purpose Trails Bring New Connectivity in the City

City Engineer Don Sheehy, PE, PS (second from right) joins representatives from Cuyahoga County and the City of Pepper Pike at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Gates Mills Boulevard multi-purpose trail.

The City of Pepper Pike is becoming a more walkable and connected community with the construction of a sidewalk and new multi-purpose trail along Lander Road and Gates Mills Boulevard.

Exciting developments are transforming Pepper Pike into a more walkable community! The construction of the Gates Mills Boulevard multi-purpose trail is officially underway, marked by a lively groundbreaking ceremony. The new asphalt trail along Gates Mills Boulevard will link the Shaker Median Trail to the west and Ursuline College north of the Lander-Gates Mills Boulevard circle. It will also provide residents access to other trails, Pepper Pike Park, and introduce new stormwater controls and landscape architecture along the boulevard.

Chagrin Valley Engineering, Ltd. (CVE) collaborated with Pepper Pike Mayor Richard Bain and the City Council to secure crucial funding for the project. This includes a $250,000 ARPA grant from Cuyahoga County Council for trailhead landscaping, a $500,000 Clean Ohio Trail Fund grant from ODNR, and $800,000 from the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works for pavement resurfacing. A major boost came from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, which completed a significant stream restoration and flood control to make this route safe for trail construction.

CVE played a pivotal role by providing surveying, design, and plan development, taking care to preserve existing trees and features to minimize tree removal and integrate new grading, plantings, and trail amenities. MKSK Landscape Architects contributed to these enhancements, further elevating the project’s impact.

Adding to the excitement, construction is set to begin on a nearly two-mile, five-foot concrete walking trail along the east side of Lander Road. This new pedestrian trail will stretch from Landerwod Plaza at Chagrin Boulevard and extend north to Fairmount Circle, connecting with the Gates Mills Boulevard multi-purpose trail. These projects are making Pepper Pike a more pedestrian-friendly city, offering residents great access to outdoor spaces and improved mobility!