Summit Metro Parks is seeking bids to build parking lots and walkways at the new cross-country course in Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton.
The project off Medina Line Road and north of Johnson Road is expected to cost $1,065,500, the park commissioners were told at last week’s meeting.
The running course itself was built in 2014 and the vegetation was allowed to take root and grow in 2015.
With the new additions, the course will be used for the first time in late summer.
The plans call for 56 paved parking spaces, said Charles Hauber, civil engineer and construction supervisor for the park district. Thirty of the paved spots will accommodate up to 16 buses during running meets, he said.
There will be additional turf parking for 266 vehicles during meets, he said.
In addition, there will be 530 feet of paved walkways, 370 feet of mowed trails and 950 feet of gravel trails, Hauber said.
The course was constructed by the Cavanaugh Building Corp. of Akron for $865,200.
The 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) course includes two loops: a 1.6-mile outer loop and a 1-mile inner loop. The course is 10 meters, or 33 feet wide and would be grassy.
The course will host regional collegiate meets with teams from multiple states plus major scholastic meets drawing teams from across Northeast Ohio.
It would be open to local walkers when meets are not being held.
The park district has been working with University of Akron cross-country coach Scott Jones and a few local high school coaches on developing the course.
The site is part of a 140-acre tract the park district purchased in October 2011.
The park commissioners also agreed to seek bids for four new restrooms at the Silver Creek cross-country course, at the new Hampton Hills Metro Park mountain bike area, on the Bike & Hike Trail at the Young Road trailhead in Stow and at the rebuilt Overlook Trail at Cascade Valley Metro Park in North Akron.
The four facilities are projected to cost about $438,000.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.