As the crow flies, it is 30 miles from Kent to Cleveland, and 40 miles if you drive. But there is another route between the cities—a historic route navigated before European settlement and formed from our glacial heritage. The Cuyahoga River (meaning “Crooked” River in Iroquois) is why both cities were settled, organized their initial urban patterns, and still has an important role to play in our future.
Kent State University has facilities in both Kent and Cleveland, with many programs focused on the ecological health and recreational opportunities of the river. The CUDC and College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) are committed to the advancement of the Cuyahoga River as a critical asset and determinant of our region’s future, and our annual “commute” from Kent to Cleveland is a celebration of our communities’ relationships to the river.
The Crooked River Commute navigates the Cuyahoga River from Kent to Cleveland each summer to bear witness to the river’s natural + unnatural beauty, research regional issues of watershed impacts, and promote water access for recreation and education.
