EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio - Ohio is known for its parks and recreation and that's exactly what East Liverpool wants to tap into.

Plans are underway for a brand new six-mile walk & bike trail near the Ohio River beginning in downtown East Liverpool.

Officials said this trail will not only connect the community across city and state lines, but will be the path to an economic boost and a more established city.

It's called the "Riverfront Trail" and it's the first step in plans to revitalize the city, and East Liverpool Mayor Greg Brecker said this new trail is just the way to do it.

"It's one of our main objectives is to implement the Riverfront Trail," Brecker said, "The Ohio River is one of our biggest assets and we want to tap into the scenery we have here."

The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition Executive Director and CEO Dan Rice said trails bring success to communities and not only for health and wellness, but the coalition calls it an "essential service" and means of transportation.

"A lot of people actually don't have cars and so trails also serve as a function for people to get not only to schools but the public library, to the grocery store and they also want to be able to get to work," Rice said. 

Officials are confident the trail will attract businesses because employers look for amenities like this for workers. Brecker hopes one day attractions could bring a hotel to the city. 

"We had a restaurant open recently and even potentially lead to a hotel with more traffic coming because this trail would connect from Lake Erie all the way to the Ohio River, so you would see a huge boost in tourism in the area," he said. 

The path will be 10 feet wide starting in downtown East Liverpool and ending on the Pennsylvania state line, but there's potential for more connections with other trails.

"There is an opportunity to connect this overall into what they refer to as the 'Industrial Heartland Trail' which is a four-state initiative connecting New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia," Rice said, "Ultimately this trail would connect all the way up to Ashtabula, on Lake Erie and all the way south to Pittsburgh."

The exact path and design of the trail are to be determined by the community. Once the city has the final plan, they'll have a cost estimate and expect to receive state, local and federal funding specifically for trails.

Rice said on average, trails are roughly $100,000 per mile. Brecker said they do not have the dollars as of yet, but both Brecker and Rice are confident funds will be available. 

"If we put together a good project, the funds will be there," Rice said, "That has been our experience."

Officials said the trail is expected to be finished in two to four years.

"Right now, we have tunnel vision," Brecker said, "We have a project and we have our eyes set on it and we want to accomplish it."

Click here to view the East Liverpool Trail Survey.