Thieves have yanked copper wiring out of light poles along Cleveland’s Red Line Greenway, leaving long, unnerving stretches of the popular trail in the dark and putting dawn and dusk runners and riders on edge. The outages have hit portions of the roughly two-mile route on the west side and have residents pushing for faster fixes. Metroparks crews are working to bring the lights back, but some segments are still dim while repairs move ahead.
Trail users have been sharing photos and videos with local TV that show extended blackout zones between West 25th Street and West 53rd Street. "It's definitely a safety issue," Harry Witwer-Dukes told News 5 Cleveland. Regular rider James Brace told the station that while he personally feels relatively safe, the missing lighting could leave some neighbors feeling exposed, according to the report.
What invoices and park pages show
The Red Line Greenway is a 2.0-mile all-purpose trail that runs alongside the RTA Red Line and connects the Michael J. Zone Recreation Center at W. 53rd Street with the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail at Columbus Road and Franklin Avenue, per Cleveland Metroparks. Invoices show Cleveland Metroparks recently spent about $10,000 on repairs, and electricians say they have adjusted installation methods so the wiring is tougher to steal, according to Signal Cleveland. Park documents indicate crews are tackling the busiest stretches first, treating them as the top priority for immediate work.
Metroparks' response
Cleveland Metroparks told News 5 Cleveland that vandals pulling copper wiring are behind the outages. The agency said it has already repaired one vandalized section and changed how fixtures are installed in an effort to discourage repeat theft. Metroparks said it is actively working through repairs and stressed that keeping the trail safe remains a top priority, though it has not given a specific timeline for full restoration.
How to report and stay safe
Metroparks is asking anyone who spots suspicious activity or darkened stretches to contact Metroparks Police and use the park system’s tip tools, with contact details posted on the Red Line Greenway project page. The park website lists a Metroparks Police phone number and a "Submit a Tip" option for reporting safety issues, per Cleveland Metroparks. Riders are being urged to steer clear of poorly lit sections at dusk and dawn and to travel in groups when they can until lighting is fully restored.
For now, regular users say they are glad to see repairs underway but want the system better protected against another round of copper theft. Cleveland Metroparks says crews will keep replacing and retrofitting affected fixtures until the greenway’s lighting is secure and the route is fully lit for everyday users again.
