The Harrison Dillard Bikeway consists of 3.74 miles of both off-road trails and on-road bike lanes, running parallel to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Cleveland.
The bikeway extends through Rockefeller Park, which includes Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens, and connects with the Lake to Lakes trail, ascending into Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights and further east. The bikeway is named for Cleveland’s four-time Olympic gold medalist, Harrison Dillard.
Harrison Dillard Bikeway
Location: Cleveland
Length: 3.74 miles
Type & uses: paved side path on both sides of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive; suggested riding routes include some on-road riding and hills
Challenge level: Low stress, off-street
Level of Traffic Stress rating: 1
Accessibility, Parking, and Operations
Transit: RTA Routes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 32, 38, 39/39F, 48/48A, the Healthline, and the Red Line
Biking/Walking: Connect via the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway through the Metroparks’ Lakefront Reservation to the north, or the Euclid Avenue bike lanes to the south.
Parking: Several parking options are available for visitors. At the northern end of the trail, the City of Cleveland’s Gordon Park lot is located off of E. 72nd Street south of I-90. Gordon Park connects to the Harrison Dillard bikeway via a pedestrian bridge over I-90 as well as via a pathway between the tennis courts and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. North of I-90, the Cleveland Metroparks’ Lakefront Administration Building (8701 Lakeshore Blvd.) offers additional parking. Parking is also available at the intersection of E. 105th Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive at the Rockefeller Lagoon and the Judge Jean Murrell Capers Tennis Courts.
Description
The Harrison Dillard Bikeway runs parallel to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Doan Brook for 3.74 miles through Rockefeller Park, which includes Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens. The bikeway is named for Cleveland’s four-time Olympic gold medalist, Harrison Dillard. The backdrop of Rockefeller Park makes this one of the most scenic urban trails in the country. The Cultural Gardens date back to 1916 and currently contain over 30 distinct gardens celebrating Cleveland’s ethnic heritage. This bikeway is made entirely of paved, off-road trails. Harrison Dillard links the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway to the north with the Lake-to-Lakes Trail to the south, connecting Cleveland’s Glenville, St. Clair-Superior, Hough, and University Circle neighborhoods.
Points of Interest & Amenities
- Cleveland Metroparks Lakefront Reservation and Lakefront Nature Preserve
- Gordon Park
- Doan Brook
- Cleveland Cultural Gardens
- Rockefeller Lagoon
- University Circle attractions (including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Case Western Reserve University)
History
Year constructed: 1997
Cost: $660,000
Additional historical information:
- Cleveland Cultural Gardens History
- Harrison Dillard (1923–2019)
- Rockefeller Park—Nature and Culture
- Rockefeller Park—Sports and Leisure
Maps
Maps from University Circle Incorporated:
Content provided by the Cleveland City Planning Commission