Congresswoman Brown Presents Cleveland Metroparks with Check to Celebrate Federal Support for East Side Trails

Cleveland, OH – On Thursday, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) presented Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman with a check celebrating the $19,500,000 federal grant the Department of Transportationawarded Cleveland Metroparks this summerfor Cuyahoga Greenways: East Side Trails. Joining the presentation at the Metropark’s East 55^th Marina was City of Cleveland Chief Operating Officer Bonnie Teeuwen. Following the presentation Brown also heard more about how Metroparks and the City of Cleveland are working to expand recreational opportunities and park space for residents in East Side neighborhoods.

**For event photos for media click here**

“I was honored to present Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman with a check to celebrate the receipt of federal funding to expand the Metroparks trail system across the East Side. I am excited to see the continued expansion connecting trails in Slavic Village and Garfield Park all the way to the lakefront. This federal funding is supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the grant application was supported with a letter from my office to help make sure all our neighborhoods have access to parks and trails,” said Congresswoman Brown.

In June, the Department of Transportation awarded Metroparks a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to expand and connect trails on the East Side. RAISE is a competitive grant program supported with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, for which Congresswoman Brown proudly voted. Congresswoman Brown also supported the grant request with a letter to DOT in February. The grant fully funds construction of two key trail projects, the Slavic Village Downtown Connector North and the Morgana Run Extension. For more information, see the grant announcement from Cleveland Metroparks.

The $19.5 million dollar grant is the largest Metroparks has ever received from the Department of Transportation.

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