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Sep 02, 2023

Overflow parking lot at Lock 29 in Peninsula closed until end of 2023

The overflow parking lot at Lock 29 in Peninsula is closed until the end of the

The overflow parking lot at Lock 29 in Peninsula is closed until the end of the year.

According to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the parking lot closed March 24 and will be closed until Dec. 31, 2023, to allow for Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad operations to move temporarily to Peninsula due to erosion issues along the tracks to the north.

"The closure is part of the effort to continue train operations in partnership with Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and the Village of Peninsula," CVNP said in a social media post. "We are super excited to be able to support CVSR, so please bear with us as we know this is an inconvenience."

The closure comes at a difficult time, as the park is busiest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May through October, and parking can already be challenging to find in the Peninsula area for visitors to the national park and other local attractions.

The 26-mile railway has been plagued by erosion issues and shutdowns along the tracks, which run along the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, over the last year.

Rep. Emilia Sykes rides CVSR:Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad resuming train rides in May

But after the railroad suspended all operations last month due to the erosion issues, the railroad announced National Park Scenic and Explorer Program excursions are returning to the rails next month, with rides from Akron to Peninsula resuming May 5.

Departures from Akron will resume for the first time in nearly a year, all seating options will be available from the Peninsula station and there will be two dome cars on all scenic excursions.

The railroad has said that the coordination of running operations from Peninsula to Akron will be elaborate and expensive, including establishing a temporary maintenance shop to service the train, storing event supplies and procuring utilities necessary for passenger travel.

The railroad has also said ticket prices won't increase to make up for those costs.

For tickets, visit cvsr.org/national-park-scenic/.

The tracks for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad were originally built in 1880 for the Valley Railway. The National Park Service owns and preserves the 26 miles of tracks in CVNP, and the railroad, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, owns and maintains the locomotive and passenger fleet.

The park said it's working in partnership with Peninsula and local businesses on parking solutions. For more places to park along the Towpath Trail to walk into Peninsula, visit nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/ohio-and-erie-canal-towpath-trail.htm.

Rivers and railroads:When trains derail, water is often nearby. Blame decisions made 150 years ago.

Contact Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills at [email protected] and on Twitter @EmilyMills818.