The Portage Park District is pleased to announce the opening of the 1.4-mile Headwaters Trail Phase VIII on Friday, July 24. The public is welcome to explore the new trail segment and speak with park volunteers and staff at an open house from 3:00pm-7:00pm on Friday, July 24 at the Chamberlain Road trailhead.
Phase VIII of Headwaters Trail in Mantua Township is located on the old Erie Lackawanna Railroad corridor between Chamberlain Road and Diagonal Road. The project includes a small trailhead parking area and restrooms at Chamberlain Road. It has a chip-and-seal surface and connects directly with the 2.8-mile Aurora Trail that opened in 2025.
Over time, the Park District purchased sections of the former railroad corridor from local residents and received a 2,400-foot trail lease from First Energy Corporation, who purchased it from Norfolk Southern Railway. The Park District then applied for and received a $500,000 Clean Ohio Trails grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for Phase VIII. “The Headwaters Trail is the result of wonderful public/private partnerships at all levels of community; we greatly appreciate these matching grants that stretch our local levy dollars even further” said Christine Craycroft, Executive Director.
The Headwaters Trail story began in the 1980s with a local grassroots effort to purchase the abandoned rail corridor and connect communities. It is a popular regional trail used by all ages and abilities that has been featured in local, regional and state public plans and has been under development for 30 years by multiple communities. 8.5-miles of limestone surfaced trail connects Garrettsville, Mantua Village, and Mantua Township up to Mennonite Road. This new 1.4-mile segment connects Diagonal Road to the Aurora Trail at Chamberlain Road. The Portage Park District has developed and manages the trail, except for short segments in Mantua Village and Garrettsville Village.
The Portage Park District’s mission is to conserve Portage County’s natural heritage and provide opportunities for its appreciation and enjoyment. For more information, visit www.portageparkdistrict.org or call 330-297-7728.
