Cleveland Metroparks Opened Mandel Community Trail

The 2.7-mile paved trail now links the lakefront to the Saint Clair Superior and Glenville neighborhoods.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Philanthropy

A smooth paved bike path winds through a green urban park toward a distant water horizon under a clear sky. — Cleveland Metroparks officially opened the 2.7-mile Mandel Community Trail, providing new recreational access between the Saint Clair Superior and Glenville neighborhoods and the city's lakefront. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Cleveland Metroparks officially opened the new Mandel Community Trail to provide pedestrians and cyclists improved access to the lakefront. The project was completed through a regional partnership between the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and the park system.

Why it matters

The trail serves as a critical connection point, linking East 55th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and integrating with the existing Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway. This infrastructure expansion aims to increase recreational connectivity for underserved city areas.

The Mandel Community Trail spans 2.7 miles and features paved off-road surfaces. The project received a $5 million donation from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation.

The players

Cleveland Metroparks

This public park system manages various green spaces and recreational trails throughout the Cleveland area.

Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation

This philanthropic organization provides funding for community development, education, and social programming initiatives.

The details

The new path features modern lighting and dedicated space for cyclists and walkers to reach the water safely. It serves as a connector between the Saint Clair Superior and Glenville neighborhoods, bridging gaps in the local trail network.

September 22, 2026: Cleveland Metroparks officially opened the trail.

Market Landscape

The project follows the development trajectory established by the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway master plan. This expansion demonstrates a growing trend of utilizing private philanthropic capital to accelerate public infrastructure goals.

Residents in the Saint Clair Superior and Glenville neighborhoods now have direct, paved access to the lakefront via the new trail. The addition of lighting and off-road surfaces provides a safer commuting and recreational option for daily users.

The takeaway

The addition of this trail highlights how private funding can successfully bridge gaps in regional infrastructure projects. Local residents can now utilize the path to bypass busy intersections while safely accessing the lakefront.