The West Branch Trail will connect North Canton, Plain Township and Canton.
The West Branch Trail will be a major north-south trail along the West Branch of the Nimishillen Creek, parallel to Interstate 77. It will link Dogwood Park and Hoover High School in North Canton to the Canton park system.
The Canton park system parallels the West Branch and is an established greenway of parks, cultural features and recreational amenities. This corridor has been cut off from the western suburbs of the City because of the Interstate. By improving intersection designs and establishing pedestrian crossings, a continuous north-south link of open space with walking and biking trails can be re-established. This continuous link will be feasible with infrastructure improvements and a consistent way-finding program of signage.
Residential streets will be used to connect Dogwood Park with Price Park in North Canton. From this point a greenway will connect Price Park, Covered Bridge Park, and Arboretum Park. This connection would utilize the back of a commercial zone along Whipple Avenue and an abandoned rail corridor. The Zimber Ditch provides some potential for an alternative route. The corridor takes advantage of Stadium Park, Monument Park, Waterworks Park, and West Park.
South of West Park, as the creek becomes obscured by freeway interchanges, the trail and greenway will take on a much different character. The park-like setting is replaced by dramatic industrial buildings and overhead freeway and rail structures. The trail will join the road system for a short distance within an industrial zone. A small vestige of an open space remains with the designation of Freeway Park. From here, the greenway will continue to the Lower Middle Branch Trail at near Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium and Frank Esmont Park.