Sat 7/18 @ 10:30AM-noon
University Circle is an anomaly unto itself.
When one thinks of all the treasures located throughout Northeast Ohio (you know, the attractions we all brag about to out-of-towners), odds are they’re located in this little pocket east of Cleveland.
Naturally, we’re talking about Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Hall, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, MOCA Cleveland and Cleveland Institute of Art.
Despite the jam-packed location’s notoriety, University Circle Inc. is taking a proactive approach to not only enlighten the region to the area but also entice repeat visits. The vehicle for this edification is Circle Trek, the University Circle Walking Tours that this summer take place the third Saturday of the month: The next is scheduled for 7/18. The 90-minute walking tour, which covers 16 stops over approximately two miles, begins at the Wade Oval Information Center and ends at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
University Circle Inc. President Chris Ronayne tells Cool Cleveland all about the fun, information-packed tour.
What’s the impetus behind the Circle Trek?
University Circle is one big story. We decided it’s time to take a look at our past, present and future through the lens of a walking tour. Some of the points of interest we’d like to bring out in our education, medical, arts and cultural district are the architecture, the history, innovation and collaboration. University Circle is a special place and a spectacular square mile. There’s nothing like it in the state of Ohio and really globally.
Was there any particular reason why Circle Trek was created now?
It’s a prelude to next summer’s visitor-ship we expect to have happen with not only the RNC but also the 150th anniversary of University Hospital and the 100th anniversary of the Cleveland Museum of Art. There are a lot of events planned in conjunction with our several institutions at Destination Cleveland but we at first want to get our regional audience better oriented of what’s going on here in this world-class place.
Circle Trek actually kicked off last month. How did it go over?
We had 30 to 40 people from all different backgrounds and different parts of the region come and explore. It was a satisfying tour. It was satisfying in as much as even some of the people who are pretty up on Cleveland history learned something new. That was always satisfying. Another satisfying element of this is to really orient people to this place in the neighborhood. When you walk block by block between the museums and universities and hospitals, you realize there’s actually an emerging neighborhood of great restaurants, great retail and great residential space. Also, we’re looking to roll out in the next few months a self-guided tour called Circle Walk. Circle Trek is a prelude to that.
It seems as though for those folks who live on the west or south side, University Circle is often an enigma. Is this your experience?
We literally use a brand campaign called Find Yourself in the Circle, and Circle Trek is a way to play out the discovery of University Circle. We tell people in any given day they can learn about anything in the world right here in University Circle.
What makes University Circle so unique is its layout. Can you talk about how it was designed or created?
The University Circle was built in the streetcar days and before that, so it didn’t emerge as an off-the-interchange kind of place and that’s really what makes it special. We are better enabled in the future with regional connectivity with projects like the Red Line improvements and also the Opportunity Corridor but it’s off the grid. It doesn’t follow normal street patterns of the West Side. What people find – once they discover they can get here and the attraction of this place – is it’s a great experience. And they come back. It just takes getting them here. So sometimes the free walking tour on a Saturday morning is one of those ways of getting people here. There’s a demand for this. People want to learn more about their city.
Circle Trek – The University Circle Walking Tour takes place from 10:30 a.m. to noon July 18 beginning at the Wade Oval Information Center.
universitycircle.org/circle-trek–july-18
Cleveland, OH 44106