Justin Gastrich has sent word of a new mountain bike trail within about 5 miles of the Slipperly Elm in nearby Hancock County:
"This trail is a much needed asset to NW Ohio. A small group of volunteers began work nearly a year ago, yet it has undergone its most rapid expansion in the last part of this year. Work continues daily to maintain, expand, and add additional obstacles to the trail.
"Six plus miles of multipurpose trails are located in the southwest and east sections of the park. In addition, there is a new three mile singletrack loop marked with blue arrows dedicated to hiking and biking only. NW Ohio doesn't offer a lot in the way of elevation gain, but the trail crisscrosses several ravines offering the rider a fair amount of short climbs and descents. The trail also winds through tall pines, blazes down high speed straights, climbs a log pile here or there, and offers a scenic view of the lake.
"At a slow pace the smooth, well-marked trail can be enjoyed by newbies. A faster pace through the tight tree sections, ravine crossings, log skinnies or a trip over the optional rock garden can still offer a more experienced handler thrills.
"The trail drains fairly well and can be ridden year around. Although the arrows suggest a CW direction, the trail is not directional so please be aware of other riders and hikers."
Directions from I-75: Exit at SR-613 (Van Buren/Leipsic). Head east through Van Buren and over tracks. Turn right on TR-218, this will turn and head east. Turn right on TR-229, take this across the lake and park in the lot on your right. The trailhead is the mulched more gradual of the two behind the bathrooms. This should dump you on the gravel road. Take this west until it turns up the hill. Loop is marked with blue arrows and begins and ends here.
Here are some shots Justin provided of the trail.
Construction continues along the Holmes County Trail. Last month the Killbuck to Millersburg portion of the trail was paved.
Two noteworthy contributions were made to the project. Five acres were donated in Killbuck for trailhead development. Also, an 1800's log cabin was donated for placement along the trail.
The latest word on the Huron River Greenway is that the Erie MetroParks have appealed the recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling (see 'Greenway Closed' below). Read more...
Steven Myers sends this update on the Huron River Greenway:
"Actually there is some more recent news. Erie MetroParks has filed a motion with the Supreme Court of Ohio to have them define what properties are subject to the ruling; something that was not noted with any detail. It had to be filed as a "motion to re-consider" but they are -not- contesting the overall decision; just get the Court's definition of what parts of the trail are involved."
In a rather strange twist of events, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the Huron River Greenway was built on land that was still owned by private landowners. Essentially the court decided that the land was taken, but cannot be given back. However, the landowners are to be compensated for the land which is now owned by Erie MetroParks. To read the full text of the latest court ruling, go here.
For the latest word on the what's happening with the trail while compensation is being worked out, check out Steven Myers web site.
A recent ruling by the Ohio State Supreme Court has resulted in the closing of the Huron River Greenway Trail by the Erie MetroParks. No word yet on the long term effects of this decision, stay tuned...
Steven Myers brought the story to our attention. His report can be found on the Huron Greenway comments page. For more, read this story. To post a comment on this situation, go here.
"Over eleven miles of The Ohio to Erie Trail will be dedicated on December 1st in Madison County and on December 8th in Holmes County. More information is below.
"The next 6.5 miles section of the Ohio to Erie Trail has been paved to the east of London. You are invited to help celebrate this event on Saturday, December 1st at noon. [This link] will give you maps to the location on Wilson Road in Madison County.
"On December 8th at 1:00 PM 4.75 miles of trail will be dedicated in Killbuck in Holmes County. The new section of trail links Killbuck with Millersburg. [See press release below for more info.]
"Bring your bikes, some warm riding gear and make it a day in London or Killbuck and Millersburg."
(Total miles of trail now improved: 15 - miles)
Ribbon cutting ceremony and trail ride to celebrate the newly constructed portion of the Holmes County Trail.
December 8, 2007
1:00 p.m. -- Rain or Shine
Killbuck, Ohio
Trail head where the old Killbuck depot is located
(Just off CR 622 in Killbuck, across from Rice-Chadwick Manufacturing)
Ribbon cutting, bike ride, horse ride, pet walk, family fun walk
(all forms of non-motorized transportation welcome)
Joan Simcak
Holmes County Park District
Holmes County Rails to Trails Coalition
1 Trail Drive, Suite B
Millersburg, Ohio 44654
Phone: 330/674/0475 Fax: 330/674/3359
E-Mail: holmestrail@embarqmail.com Web: www.holmestrail.org
Mark Thomas reports on the planned extension of the Bridgewater Trail from Days Dam Park north to St. Rt. 611 in Lorain County: "...Well, there's been some progress, and it looks like it should open next year! A traffic signal has been installed where the trail crosses East 31st Street. Clearing, grading and some paving have been ongoing. And in the past few weeks three new bridges have been erected."
Mark sends along some photos of the French Creek Trail Bridge construction. Take a look...
Joan Simcak sends word of an upcoming ribbon cutting event:
"The Holmes County Trail anticipates a ribbon cutting ceremony sometime in the next few weeks to celebrate the completion of Phase 2 of the Holmes County Trail project. Phase 2 is a 4.75 [mile] section from Millersburg to Killbuck.
"This phase of trail development now makes 14.75 miles of trail available from Killbuck to Fredericksburg and is the first trail in the nation designed to accommodate Amish buggies on an 8ft chip-n-seal trail with an adjoining 8ft asphalt trail."
Plans to finish the towpath in Massillon and develop trails on Jackson Township campuses are covered in this story.
An overview of the three alternative routes that are currently being considered for trail development to connect Theodore M. Berry Park in Cincinnati to the Lunken Airfield are outlined in this blog. Here's a related piece seeking public input on this project. Read more...
An important Ohio & Erie Towpath bridge crossing of I-77 near Bolivar has finally been completed. Construction of the bridge began in April, 2006. Read more...
This piece has a buried brief on the Heart-of-Ohio Trail. Read more...
Knox County Commissioners are examining revised cost estimates on the 16-mile Heart-Of-Ohio Trail portion of the Ohio-to-Erie Trail project. Read more...
A local bike trail along Rt. 3 will be expanded to connect various points along the south end of Loudonville with the Mohican State Park mountain bike trailhead. Read more...
Efforts to connect the Little Miami Trail with Cincinnati's riverfront are in the works. Read more...
Changing use in local railroad traffic may affect the Panhandle Trail at some time in the future. Read more...
News brief on a Shaker Heights bike path that is in the planning stages. Read more...
Some news from the R-T-C that should be of interest to trail advocates and activists alike:
"Dear [Trail Supporters],
"On the Newshour with Jim Lehrer on August 15, 2007, U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Secretary Mary Peters claimed that trails and bike paths are not 'transportation-related.' This use of funds, she claimed, partially explains the Minneapolis bridge collapse by diverting bridge repair funds to bicycle paths.
"In response, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy partnered with the League of American Bicyclists, encouraging advocates to write Secretary Peters to express their disappointment in her comments. After receiving thousands of concerned letters, Sec. Peters responded that her comments were not intended to indict bicycle and pedestrian investments broadly, but rather the processes by which transportation funds are sometimes distributed. It is, she noted, U.S. DOT's belief that 'bicyclists and pedestrians are legitimate and welcome users of our Nation's transportation system. They are a healthy part of the solution to congestion in our urban areas.
"Secretary Peters' acknowledgement of biking and walking is welcome, but much work remains to be done to make active transportation a priority at U.S. DOT and at the state level. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has met with top executives at U.S. DOT to press your concerns, and we will continue to encourage U.S. DOT to improve our nation's facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.
"Thank you for taking action and expressing your thoughts and feelings to Sec. Peters. Because of your work, she has publicly clarified U.S. DOT's position on the role of bicyclists and pedestrians in our nation's transportation system.
"Go here to read Sec. Peters' letter."
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new section of Portage Hike & Bike Trail took place at Kent State University campus recently. Though this segment doesn't currently connect with the main trail, plans are in the works to make that happen. Read more...
A $1.7 million dollar grant has been awarded to Knox County to build a segment of trail that will tunnel under busy Rt. 3/36 between Centerburg and Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Read more...
News Brief on construction closings due to the trail project.
From the article - "Work will soon get under way on a new section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in southern Summit County." Read more...
A news brief on the possibility of a temporary trail from Lunken Airfield into downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
We missed this story in August, but wanted to post it here in case the perpetrator is still at large. This took place in Antrim Park in Columbus, where the Olentangy-Scioto Trail passes through. Be alert out there, carry some personal protection and consider riding with others. If you are aware of a followup to this report, please email us.
A good story on this 100-mile project from this past summer. Read more...
Another section of the Richland B & O Trail has received a new asphalt top coat. See the B & O Upates or Review Page for more details.
A recent piece of this project was completed. The goal is to construct a bike path connecting the Little Miami and Great Miami Rivers in Butler County, just north of Cincinnati. Read more...
Knox County Commissioners met with a local property owner to discuss the issue of the trail blocking the owner's use of his property. Read more...
Just as railroad tracks had bisected many properties, using these abandoned corridors for trails presents a similar scenario. It's paramount to address any concerns or problems that this may create with local landowners to find workable solutions for all parties.
A recent hazard that apparently caused a number of cyclists to go down on the Little Miami Trail has been remedied. Read more...
The Ohio to Erie Trail Fund will launch its new website (www.ohiotoerietrail.net) on Monday, August 27, 2007, at 1:00 PM in a virtual media conference.
The new website offers trail users the ability to search and print maps of The Ohio to Erie Trail from their own computers. Trail maps now allow users to find cross streets and to plan their use of the trails in greater detail. The new mapping software allows trail users to Zoom In and Zoom Out. Trail lines on the mapping software are color coded to match the trail surface. Roads that cover the gaps in the trail are a different color.
Board President Tom Moffitt of The Ohio to Erie Trail Fund stated, "We are excited about providing this state-of-the-art trail mapping system which will allow trail users to better plan their route. We are looking forward to "closing the gaps" and finishing the trail and the new mapping software will assist the public in understanding how close we are to achieving a complete trail through the state."
The Ohio to Erie Trail Fund has worked since 1991 to build an off road trail from Cincinnati, through Columbus, and on to Cleveland. Over the past 16 years The Ohio to Erie Trail Fund has assisted local communities, the state of Ohio, and community groups in securing funding for trail right of way and trail construction.
The Ohio to Erie Trail Fund Executive Director Jerry Rampelt will be on the call to answer questions about the route.
WiredViews of Tallmadge, Ohio is the web designer. Rob Heiser of WiredViews will also be on the call to answer questions about the technology at the end of the call
Waste Management provided riders and support for gathering the GPS data required for trail mapping, and riders Erick Palmer and Nick Harpster will be on the call.
Media may view a demo site in advance of the press conference at www.ohiotoerietrail.us. Notice that the web address ending is dot.us.
Members of the media may attend the press conference at MORPC, 285 East Main St. in Columbus, Ohio. The website will be projected and Jerry Rampelt will be available. Doors open at 12:30 PM.
For more information contact Jerry Rampelt, Executive Director
614-267-2915
jrampelt@columbus.rr.com
Building bikeway routes through congested urban areas presents huge challenges. A major hurdle is being overcome in Akron with the building of a 275' trail bridge for the towpath. Read more....
The last crushed stone section of the Bike & Hike trail is getting an asphalt topcoat. Read more...
The Ohio-to-Erie Trail received $6,378,000 in 2006 for trail development. The Clean Ohio Trail Fund provided the following grants:
HB 699 (FY 2007/08 Capital Bill) provided the following:
Work on the Ohio-to-Erie Trail keeps chugging along across different areas of the state where gaps are still being closed. This piece covers the progress on the stretch southwest of Mt. Vernon. Read more...
More funding available for the Triangle Trail. Read more...
Jerry Rampelt brings us up to speed on the OTE:
Trail Mapping: This past week, Tuesday thru Thursday, the GPS data was gathered for The Ohio to Erie Trail. Erick Palmer and Nick Harpster from Columbus road over 300 miles, including 114 miles on the third day to ensure the data points were collected. I was able to bike 250 miles, but Rick and Nick were able to hammer the ride. Len Fisher also from Columbus was the van driver who carried gear and supplied water and food. Each of them volunteered their time to be part of this effort.
Erick works for Waste Management, and WM sponsored the ride along with providing employees each day to encourage us in the ride. They even had a WM truck greet us at the finish in Cleveland. There was lots of local press coverage of the ride, and we believe National Public Radio picked up the story for national distribution. NPR focused on the technology that Wired Views uses in creating trail maps. Beth Schmucker from WM coordinated the media coverage.
For two and a half days we had moderate temperatures, and the wind at our backs.
The goal is to have a demo [OTE] website up by mid-July.
Genoa Township (Delaware County) Dedicates Trail: On June 2 Genoa Township dedicated a short and critical section of The Ohio to Erie Trail, and that closed the last gap between Easton Shopping Center in Columbus to nearly Galena in Delaware County.
Holmes County Auction on June 16: This auction is not to be missed. The Amish in Holmes County donate furniture and quilts for the auction, and the proceeds go to the Homes County trail. Also, there is a trail run, chicken dinner, and farm tool auction. More information can be found at www.holmestrail.org.
Here's a news report from Mt. Vernon that covered the ride.
Article on the Underground Railroad Trail that passes through Ohio.
Here's another piece on the trail.
Story on the proposed Ohio & Erie Towpath extension plan to Lake Erie and its challenges and benefits.
Here's an article on trail safety with input from Randy Cronk, president of the Kokosing Gap Trail.
Press release:
MODERN DAY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS ADVENTURE IN OHIO ON JUNE 5-7 WASTE MANAGEMENT & OHIO-to-ERIE TRAIL TEAM UP FOR 300 MILE BIKE TREK
May 14, 2007 - Call it your modern day Christopher Columbus adventure right here in the State of Ohio doing what no one has successfully done before -- bike the entire OTE from Cincinnati to Cleveland in just three days and literally map the exact trail route as they go. Waste Management and the OTE are partnering for this challenging expedition that takes place June 5-7, and the Waste Management (WM) Bike Team will travel approximately 305 miles (with Day Two expected to be the most difficult conquering rough terrain all uphill). The riders will start in Cincinnati on June 5, and their journey will include stops in Xenia, Columbus, Mt. Vernon, Akron, and then complete their bike adventure in Cleveland on Thursday afternoon, June 7. (Schedule and locations of stops for the three days attached - Riders will be available for short interviews during the stops.)
The WM Bike Team consists of Waste Management Landfill Manager Erick Palmer (who successfully climbed the summit of Mt. Rainier in 2006) and team member Nick Harpster. Executive Director of the OH/Erie Trail, Jerry Rampelt, will also be biking most of the trip and showing support of the project. According to Rampelt, "The ultimate benefit will be the mapping of the Trail and putting it on a website becoming a valuable tool for trail users everywhere. By Waste Management supplying the riders and being committed to this project, it is more than a donation. It's an investment in the future of Ohio."
Eric Palmer will have a GPS unit attached to his bike during the whole trip. WiredViews, a web application company based in Tallmadge, Ohio, will capture the trailhead data throughout the trip and then use it to develop the first interactive online map of the entire OH/Erie Trail. When completed, the OTE will be the longest paved trail in the United States.
MEDIA NOTE: The riders are available for pre-interviews during the next few weeks. Riders' bios also available.
The 305 mile Waste Management Bike Team Trek on OTE June 5-7, 2007 -- Schedule of Stops (bikers available for short interviews during these stops)
TUESDAY, JUNE 5 - DAY ONE (plan to bike 115 miles) 6 a.m. - Begin in Cincinnati at Avoca Park, 8063 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227
9:30 a.m. - Stop at Xenia Station at South Detroit Street (OH 380) about 1 mile south of the US-35 and US-68 intersection, Xenia, OH
4 p.m. - Stop in Columbus at Battelle Riverfront Park, 25 Marconi Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215
End of Day One
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 - DAY TWO (plan to bike 100 miles) 6 a.m. - Begin in Columbus at 3875 Olentangy River Road (Jerry Rampelt's home located on Trail)
11 a.m. - Stop in Mount Vernon @ Knox County Administration Building 117 East High Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
4 p.m. - Millersburg - end of Day Two
THURSDAY, JUNE 7 - DAY THREE (plan to bike 90 miles) 6 a.m. - Begin in Millersburg
Noon - Stop in Akron at Lock 3 Park 182 S. Main St., Akron, OH
3 p.m. - Finish Trail in Cleveland at Leonard Krieger CanalWay Center, 4524 E. 49th St., Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio
CONTACT: Beth Schmucker - 330-806-5850 (cell)
Here's the latest from Jerry Rampelt on the OTE:
Cincinnati: A hearing was held by a committee of Cincinnati City Council about the trail route from Lunken Airport to downtown, and the engineering firm made a presentation with three suggested routes. Ohio to Erie Trail President Tom Moffitt and Executive Director Jerry Rampelt were in attendance and offered testimony in support of completing the trail. It appears council is supportive and making plans to move forward.
Trail Festivals
London (Madison County) has its annual Strawberry Festival on June 2nd in London. I have tasted the shortcake in London during the festival, and it is worth the trip.
Millersburg (Holmes County): The third annual Benefit Auction is on June 16 at the depot on the trail. Amish furniture is auctioned, and this is not to be missed. More information can be found at www.holmestrail.org. Also, there is a 5K race and chicken barbecue.
Genoa Township (Delaware County): Another section of The Ohio to Erie Trail will be dedicated on June 2nd in Genoa Township with a 5K and 5 mile run. On June 3 there will be a 15K run. More information about the runs can be found at the following link. The Ohio to Erie Trail Fund contributed $30,000 toward the purchase of the property for this section of trail.
Trail Mapping: The development of the website is moving forward, and GIS coordinates for the trail will be gathered June 5-7. Waste Management has donated a lead rider, Erik Palmer, van support, driver, and supplies for the three day ride. I also volunteered to make the 300 mile ride. The website will have the entire trail mapped and a suggested road route that connects the gaps in the trail. The route on the website will be color coded so that when you plan a ride you will know the surface before you head out. It will be clearly marked on the website maps whether the trail is paved, crushed rock, dirt, or road. The trail maps will be on top of Google Maps so you can print a map before departing.
Construction: We are waiting for construction to begin on the Killbuck to Millersburg (Holmes County) and London to Wilson Road (Madison County) sections of trail.
Little Miami 40th Year Celebration is on May 9th. For those of us who have enjoyed the Little Miami Trail this is a remarkable achievement.
Construction projects intended to ease flooding will result in the closings of some Blanchard River area trails this season. Read story.
Here's a related piece on the continuing flooding woes in the Findlay area.
Trail building may soon be slowing down in many areas and perhaps grinding to a standstill in others as The # 1 resource for funding, federal funds, are being rescinded to the tune of a record $3.47 billion nationwide. Read the full story.
What can you do to help prevent all trail funding from being cut in Ohio? Go to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and check out this page to learn more.
Making a trail trip to the Miami Valley area? They've had quite a bit of flooding along the Great Miami River recently. Be sure to checkout Pedalopolis before heading out. Their cycling forums and 'Trail Watch' sections are great for learning about current trail conditions and closures in the area.
Read an article covering the meeting that was held on March 20th to unveil preliminary designs to the public.
Here's the latest from the Executive Director of the OTE Trail Fund:
Columbus Outdoor Pursuits: There is no way to thank Columbus Outdoor Pursuits and the organization's unwavering support for The Ohio to Erie Trail. COP donated $60,000 to The Ohio to Erie Trail in January, and COP's overall contribution is now over $600,000. The Ohio to Erie Trail since 1991 purchased just over $600,000 of trail right of way, and there is a clear link between what COP has contributed and the ability to purchase trail right of way for local communities.
OTE Website: I met with the company (Wired Views) that is designing the new website for The Ohio to Erie Trail. They are making progress... The key component is the mapping of the trail, which will be on Google Maps. The trail map will be color coded to let you know whether the surface is paved, dirt, or a county road linking gaps in the trail. The maps will be zoomable and can be printed on your computer. Our goal is to have the website operational by June 1.
Waste Management offered to GPS the trail as an in-kind donation to The Ohio to Erie Trail, and this will begin soon - weather permitting. Eric Palmer, a Waste Management employee and accomplished rider, will ride the route with the GPS device. Wired Views then takes the coordinates from the GPS data and converts that to lines on Google Maps.
Legislative Update: Meetings are occurring with members of Governor Strickland's administration to give them an overview of The Ohio to Erie Trail. Dan Ritchey and I have a meeting this week with the legislative head of ODNR. Next week several environmental groups will be meeting with Senator Tom Niehaus, who chairs the Environment and Natural Resources committee of the Ohio Senate. One of the major issues being raised by The Ohio to Erie Trail is the cost of constructing trails and how those costs differ among different governmental bodies.
Bridges on the Trail: The Spring newsletter will feature pictures of bridges on the Ohio to Erie Trail. If you would like to make a pictorial contribution, please forward one to jrampelt@columbus.rr.com.
Vehicular traffic is impacting the University/Parks Trail in Toledo. To learn more, check out the trail comments page or go trailside where we've posted a piece concerning the problem.
Plans are firming up for a proposed rerouting of the Brandywine Road section of the Bike-Hike Trail. Currently the bikeway utilizes the roadway for about 1 mile. Plans are to move this section off road as dedicated trail. Read the complete story.
Lorain County Metroparks will be extending the Bridgewater Trail north to SR 611 this summer. It will continue along the Black River, and will have additional, new bridge crossings. The section of Route 611 where it will terminate is not bicycle friendly, but plans are to incorporate a bike lane along the south side running west to Lorain when the roadway is widened and rebuilt, sometime in the near future.
Trail Plan
Here are Mark's notes regarding the trail plan pictured here: "The orientation is north-up, Rte 611 (Colorado Avenue) runs across the top, East River Road drops down the right side. (The drawing seems to focus on property lines and elevation contours, making roads and rivers a little difficult to pick out.) The existing trail (shown in red) runs south from 31st Street. The extension is shown in orange and yellow running north from the existing Days Dam Metropark. Three new bridges will be built to carry the trail across the Black River, French Creek, and a drainage ravine. This last one is labeled "Colorado Avenue," but the trail does not cross the roadway. There is another proposal to include a pathway extending west along the south shoulder of Rte 611 when it is widened to 3 lanes."
Preliminary design plans will be unveiled for this 10 1/2-mile Sandusky County section of the N.C.I.T on March 20th. Area residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to comment and provide input. See the article.
Well, we're still in March, so it can't be April Fool's Day! This has got to be the most unique trail concept that we've heard of in quite some time. If the idea becomes reality, you'll be able to ride the floater in Akron, Ohio along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath route. Check out the story.
Summit County MetroParks trail updates for the Akron Bike & Hike & the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail.
News brief on recent developments along the canal in the downtown Akron, Ohio area.
Brief overview on the N.C.I.T. progress in the area.
Read the news brief.
Recent feature story on the towpath includes excerpts from the 101-mile journey last fall.
ODOT has posted their 2007 edition of bikeway news updates. They've included recently constructed trails in 2006, along with projects that are expected to be competed during '07.
The Fall edition of the Ohio-to-Erie newsletter reports that the Genoa Township Trail has been connected with the Westerville Bikeway system at Mount Royal Avenue, near the junction of Rt. 3 & the Old 3-C Highway. Use caution at this road crossing as traffic is often heavy here.
This links the Galena Bikeway with both the Westerville Bikeway and a portion of the Alum Creek Trail (part of the Ohio-to-Erie)!
Look for a revamped Ohio-to-Erie Trail web site sometime in 2007.
Joe Chase was kind enough to provide a review and pics of the Portage Bike & Hike Trail. Not previously featured, this trail is an important segment that will eventually link the city of Ravenna to the Akron Bike & Hike Trail. Thanks Joe!
Thanks to Tom Bower for his update on a new Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath section between Clinton and Barberton. The trail now reaches about 2.2 miles north of Center Road. Another 1.7 miles of future trail will connect the segment with the 4.3 miles in Barberton. The unfinished gaps continue to close on the towpath as the Ohio-to-Erie Trail continues its construction. See Little Miami update below for more Ohio-to-Erie progress.
The Little Miami Trail has a new southern section, extending the trail by approximately 4 miles in length. John Hess sends an update regarding the newly opened section.
The trail is benefiting from work on the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, which should prove to be the first cross-state trail completed around 2010. The Ohio & Erie Towpath and the Holmes County Trail will also see improvements as part of this long term project.
There is some information on the next phase of the towpath trail under construction in Akron. The new segment will start at the Mustill store, where the trail ends now, and rise 80+/- feet to the edge of downtown Akron. Their newsletter states the trail will be open by the fourth of July ['06].
A portion of trail that connects the Newark to Johnstown trail with the OSU campus at Rt. 16 has been gated since February 20th. Ownership issues have been raised as to whether a portion of the trail may have been placed on private property.
The gate is unlocked and the trail does remain open to the public at this time. The gate and accompanying 'private property' signs are apparently intended to create public awareness regarding the land in question.
The Lebanon Countryside Trail held its grand opening on October 1, 2005. Years in the making, this 8.2 mile trail connects the city of Lebanon with the popular Little Miami Scenic Trail. This seemingly simple connection also connects the trail with the Xenia Station hub, and the Ohio-to-Erie cross state trail.
The Lebanon Trail is a prime example of a community "plugging into" a major trail network to enjoy the benefits. As these off-shoots or branch trails increase in number, the network grows larger allowing more Ohioans direct access to regional or state wide trail systems.
See an article of the grand opening.
A 3.3 mile section of the North Coast Inland Trail is now open in Huron County between Norwalk and Monroeville. The trail surface is crushed limestone and dirt. Work is well underway on the 7 mile piece between Monroeville and Bellevue.
For more info, visit the Firelands Rails to Trails web site.
A new section of Ohio-to-Erie Trail has been completed this summer. The Prairie Grass Trail has been extended 8 miles from Maple Street in London, Ohio east to Wilson Road. The new surface is crushed stone, but will eventually be asphalt.
The new trail section has been dubbed, "Roberts Pass." View article regarding the grand opening. See a map of this trail.
The Kokosing Gap's 3-year paving plan is right on schedule. New asphalt has been laid from Gambier to Howard, OH. In 2006, the final year of the plan, the resurfacing should be completed to Danville.
The first phase of the resurfacing in '04, from Mt. Vernon to Gambier, has already been seal coated this summer.
Holmes County Trail construction of the 10.5-mile section from Millersburg to Fredericksburg is now complete. This major project finishes about 35% of the trail and reveals the dual trail configuration that the trail architects had envisioned.
For more, check out their web site.
Are you interested in seeing the Heritage Trail extended through Plain City, OH? If so, find out how you can help by attending a trail meeting (scroll to bottom of page), or contact Christopher Johanson.
Knox County commissioners are attempting to rail bank the corridor CSX has abandoned from Fredericktown to Mt. Vernon, OH. If successful, this could be the first trail link toward connecting the Kokosing Gap with the Richland B & O Trail in Richland County.
Trail building is continuing along the trail. There are now three open sections of the Greenway, the latest of which opened in June 2003, and extends roughly two miles. Check out the latest news.
Get the details on plans to extend the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath north of old Harvard Avenue and on to the Flats on Lake Erie.
Contact Us
© 2006-2008 OhioBikeways.net