New paved walking track opens at Navarre park

A paved walking path at Navarre’s Market Street Park is open for use. The oval-shaped track loops around the park near the Towpath Trail YMCA.

The approximately 1/4-mile, flat track provides walking and exercise opportunities for people who either can’t traverse hilly terrain or simply don’t want to. It’s also accessible for people using wheelchairs or pushing baby strollers.

“A lot of people expressed feeling uncomfortable walking the towpath by themselves,” said Beth Alban, executive director for the YMCA. “And I can’t think of any other place in this general vicinity that’s got pavement so you can take a stroller.”

While the trail is on the same grounds as the YMCA, it is open to the public. “The village owns the property but we lease it to them at a very reasonable rate because it is a tremendous benefit having them here,” said Justin Cline, mayor of Navarre and previous parks department chair.

There is plenty of parking for track users as well as people who wish to use the playground or picnic shelter. Alban said people are welcome to bring their dogs with them on the trail just as long as they clean up after them.

The track project was made possible with a NatureWorks grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. But, before seeking funding for a walking track, Alban said the YMCA conducted a member survey to learn what additional services or features were most desired.

“People tell us what they’d like to see happen here,” she said. “For a long time people were saying it would be nice to have a walking track outside. So when we applied for the grant, people talked about it continuously, asking ‘when is the track coming?’”

Alban and Cline both credited Debbie Lehman with helping obtain the grant. Lehman and her husband Ernie are the owners of Ernie’s Bicycle Shops in Massillon, North Canton and New Philadelphia.

Lehman is experienced with grant writing for trails and other projects for the Massillon Area Greenways Incorporated and Bethlehem Township.

“We received the award letter in November of 2023 telling us we got a NatureWorks grant of around $43,000,” said Lehman. “What’s cool about the project is that it shows how government and private entities can work in partnership. The YMCA is completely separate from the park, yet such an integral part of it.”

Lehman was quick to point out that there is no single person to be credited with getting a grant. “I worked with Zachary Wisslegren, the Village Administrator for Navarre at the time, the clerk at village hall and Beth at the YMCA. It takes a lot of people coming together to assemble the information needed to tell the story.”

While they had the funding they needed, Lehman said since it was a paving project, it had to wait for warmer spring weather. Once shovel was put to earth, it took only about a week to install the path.

“Getting the grant made me feel almost as good as seeing people using it,” said Lehman. “I drive past there every day and I see people using that path. That’s where you get the warm fuzzies.”

Alban and Cline both said they are thrilled to have the track in place at the park. “I was talking to someone the other day who said this whole place is Navarre’s best kept secret.” said Cline. But that status may not last.

“With the access to routes 21 and 30 here in Navarre, I think this whole area is on the edge of a boom,” said Alban.

Cline pointed out what is now Market Street used to be a busy truck route. “It’s not anymore, so there’s not a ton of traffic going through here. So the park is kind of tucked away in a safe spot here.”

For more information, call 330-879-0800 or find the Towpath Trail YMCA on Facebook.