The first segment of a trail connecting the cities of Solon and Chagrin Falls will open to the public Friday, Oct. 31. People will be able to walk or bike down the path, which was built as a combined effort between Rails to Trails Conservancy, Cleveland Metroparks and the city of Solon.

Contractor Nerone and Sons carried out construction of the trail, which has been relatively smooth according to Sean McDermott, Chief Planning & Design Officer at Cleveland MetroParks.

“We started construction last year,” McDermott said. “We’re putting the finishing touches on the trail. Next year, MetroParks will be building the next phase.”

That phase, expected to be finished next year, will take the rest of the trail north to its end in Chagrin Falls, building on land previously occupied by a 19th-century railroad track called the Hoodlebug Line. The trail has been in the works for awhile, with the city buying the land in the 90s. It took until 2018 for the city to officially propose the trail and four more years before it was approved by City Council. Despite the approval, some residents, including Aberdeen Lane resident Karen Scott, had concerns.

“Most people had a pretty negative reaction,” Scott said. “Nobody wants their privacy invaded.”

Aberdeen Lane is one of many streets in North Solon that the trail runs through. When the city was first planning the trail, Scott and other affected residents by the trail were called to meetings with the HOA and Solon mayor, Edward Kraus.

“Everybody at that time was upset because we didn’t want our backyards to be invaded, infringed on,” Scott said. “They listened to our complaints, which was nice, but still, [opinions are] all going to be mixed, depending on how close you are to the trail.”

Despite continued worries about personal space and property values from some, the trail was a priority for Kraus’s administration, according to McDermott. Other residents, such as Wesley Cayne, who lives near the trail, are excited now that it is near completion.

“I am very pro-trail,” Cayne said. “I think it is a great way to put dilapidated land to use, and it benefits the community.”

Cayne runs often on the trail and said he’s excited for when it is completed. Cayne recognizes the overall sentiment of the community too.

“I heard pretty positive opinions, but a couple people whose houses are a bit closer don’t like it so much.”

As far as administration is concerned, Kraus said that the trail is an example of the kind of partnerships Solon is trying to create.

“People love trails,” Kraus said. “To walk, to hike or to bike. They also like being away from cars. Because a lot of people that exercise, they do it either on the road or near the road, and it’s dangerous. People are concerned about getting hit by cars. They love being on a trail where you don’t have to worry about getting hit by a car.”

Kraus said there are physical and mental health benefits to the trail too, along with promotional opportunities for the city.

“We have a lot of active trails for people that want to either live here or do business here,” Kraus said. “It’s a great way to market the city when you have these built in trail systems.”

Still, even with heavy support from the city government, many residents have mixed feelings.

“You know, it impressed me after I saw it go up,” Scott said. “Did I want it to go up? No. Did I worry about my property value? Yes. And I still am, because everybody will see it differently. We’ll see where it goes.”

Ultimately, the trail is supposed to be about partnership, according to McDermott. The project cost $5.5 million to construct, part of which was funded by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and Transportation. Kraus said Solon has had “great [partnerships]” between the state and Chagrin Falls.

“The more partners you have, you can accomplish a lot more,” Kraus said. “That’s the only way you can get it done. You can’t do it alone.”

Looking to the future, another Solon trail connecting to Bainbridge Township is in its initial phase. As far as MetroParks attachment goes, McDermott said they are currently not involved, but may be in the future.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Solon,” McDermott said. “We hope [the trail] builds community.”