Two days and 50 miles. That is how long it will take kayakers to paddle the Cuyahoga River from 5X社区 to Kent State鈥檚 for the 5th annual . The event is intended to promote the river as a shared asset for education, recreation, and sustainability.
The kayakers will leave from Heritage Park in Kent on Friday, Aug. 10, and celebrate their return to Cleveland by paddling into the Cleveland Flats neighborhood on Saturday, Aug. 11. The flotilla of 18 kayakers is expected to arrive at the Cleveland Metroparks Merwin鈥檚 Wharf on Saturday evening. An arrival party is planned at Merwins Wharf on Saturday from 6-8 p.m. to cheer on the paddlers and enjoy the riverfront surroundings.
5X社区 students, faculty, alumni, and friends will complete the trek, which includes overnight camping at Heritage Farms in Peninsula. Kayaks will be provided by Kent State鈥檚 Crooked River Adventures, a livery offering recreational and instructional opportunities on the Cuyahoga River and Mogadore Reservoir. The Crooked River Commute team hopes to raise awareness about riverfront communities, promote freshwater design issues, and produce a documentary film about the journey.
Kent State鈥檚 Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative and Kent State鈥檚 College of Architecture and Environmental Design are committed to promoting the ecological health of the river and its recreational opportunities through outreach as well as educational and academic programs designed to promote the river as a critical asset to the region鈥檚 future.
The kayakers will be sharing their journey live though social media. You can follow them through , and using #CrookedRiverCommute.
For more information on Kent State鈥檚 College of Architecture and Environmental Design, visit www.kent.edu/caed.
For more information on Kent State鈥檚 Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, visit .
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Photo Caption:
5X社区 students paddle down the Cuyahoga River during a Crooked River Adventures kayaking trip.
Media Contacts:
David Jurca, djurca@kent.edu, 216-337-4303
Kristin Anderson, kander63@kent.edu, 330-672-7907