AKRON, Ohio -- The Cuyahoga River Water Trail, a collaborative project organized by more than 25 groups, has scheduled an informational event for Wednesday, Dec. 12.

The open house is set to run from 5 to 7 p.m. at Happy Days Lodge, 500 West Streetsboro Road, in Peninsula.

Project leaders will host a presentation at 5:30 p.m., but attendees may come and go at any time during the event. Questions and feedback from the public are encouraged.

The City of Akron and local parks systems, regional agencies, nonprofits and municipalities have been involved in rejuvenating the river, which runs through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Leaders from these organizations teamed together with the goal to protect the Cuyahoga River and restore it as a aquatic equivalent to a hiking trail.

The Cuyahoga River Water Trail Partners are working to establish the 100-mile river as an Ohio Water Trail by June 2019.

This date marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River's last burning.

Designating the waterway as an Ohio Water Trail would help promote the area as a low-impact recreation zone for public boating and place the Cuyahoga River with 11 other statewide rivers with this title.

"We look forward to the bright future of the river, and the water trail designation will help to propel us into the next 50 years of working together to protect and enjoy this phenomenal regional asset," Paul Stoehr, acting superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, said in a news release.

The river trail would create a paddling route that includes signs, safety information, access points, educational elements and maintenance.

The mission of the proposed trail is to create new experiences for area residents, develop the local economy and celebrate the river's renewal.

The water trail designation would help project leaders continue work on cleaning up local waterways. But the public's feedback is necessary to determine how the river will be best used in the future.

Local governments, regional organizations and area residents are encouraged to visit visit cuyahogariverwatertrail.org for more information.

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