Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TM

Robert W. Bobel, P.E.Park Engineer

Cuyahoga Valley National ParkGreater Cleveland Trails and Greenways Conference

Given June 7, 2010Middleburg Heights, OH

Trail Design & Construction Challenges in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TM

Trail Users + Trail Location = Design Standards

Design Standards → Width, grades, surface

Surface = Costs (initial + maintenance)

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMTrail Users

• Surface

• Width

• Grades

• Trailheads

• Trail amenities

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMTrail Location

• Crossings

• Along water courses

• Environmental

• Cultural

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMRiver and stream erosion

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMFlooding

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMAggregate Surfaces

• Crushed Rolled Limestone

• Gravel & Sand Mix

• Natural earthen

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMPaved Hardened Surface

• Asphalt

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMPaved Hardened Surface

• Concrete

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMPaved Hardened Surface

• Specialty surfaces

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMOther Hardened Surface

• Boardwalks

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TM

Trail Surfaces

Limestone – Asphalt – Concrete

(initial costs)

$ → $$ → $$$

(maintenance costs)

$$$ → $$ → $

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMLimestone - Advantages

• Lower Initial Cost

• Softer Appearance

• More Giving Surface

• More absorption

• Slower Speeds

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMLimestone - Disadvantages

• Requires Regular Maintenance

• Requires time to set up

• Limited to flatter trails

• Spring Tundra

• Summer Dusting

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMBank Erosion

• Gabion walls

• Gabion protected slopes

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMBank Erosion – lower flows

• Live staking

• Brush matting

• Root wads

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMBank Erosion – typical details

• Stone rip rap

• Brush layering

• Soil Wraps

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMBank Erosion – higher flows

• Stone rip rap

• Brush layering

• Soil Wraps

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMBank Erosion – innovative techniques

• Spurs & vanes

• Buried windrows

• Engineered log jams

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMFlooding

• Clean-up

• Repair

• Harden

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMContract out or construct in-house?

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMManage Expectations

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

TMTrail Challenges - Summary