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
