Peninsula

AKRON

Dalton Canal Fulton

Apple Creek Massillon Glenmont Millersburg Mount Vernon Killbuck Danville Galena Centerburg Westerville South London Charleston COLUMBUS Photo Credit - David Honchul Georgesville Xenia Cedarville Corwin Spring Valley

Loveland Morrow to Erie Milford Spring/Summer 2021 Newsletter #63

Regional of the OTET Since Ed Honton first envisioned a recreation trail The regional trails come in all shapes and sizes. The from the Ohio River to Lake Erie in 1991, the plan shortest trail, the Connector in Columbus, was to connect regional trails to form the route. is 3/10 of a mile long. The longest trail, the O&E Over the past thirty years, Ed’s vision has become a Canalway Towpath in northeast Ohio, is 66.7 miles reality with currently 24 regional trails, totaling 277 long. There are five trails less than 1 mile long, eleven miles, making up 85% of the . These trails that are 1 to 10 miles in length, six trails in the regional trails add to the diversity of environment, 11 to 30 mile range, and two trails over 30 miles geography, and history that an adventurer experi- long. ences when traversing the Buckeye State.

The Ohio to Erie Trail includes a National Park, a State Park, and a myriad of community, county, and Metro parks. The regional trails and trailheads that connect these parks are owned and maintained by the various city, county, state or federal organizations were they reside. It is the unrelenting efforts of these governmental organizations and Friends of the Trail groups, who spend thousands of hours each year to maintain and expand these trails, that make the Ohio to Erie Trail possible.

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www.ohiotoerietrail.org facebook.com/OhiotoErie Spring/Summer 2021 #63 Trail Progress Cuyahoga County: drainage improvements A request for funding to Franklin County: The For an update on prog- with an estimated finish the ODNR Clean Ohio Downtown connector trail ress on the Ohio & Erie date of construction as Trail Fund program was (next to I-670) is being Towpath Trail, see here 11/1/2021. submitted. This request widened and repaved - http://canalwaypartners. was for 1,500 feet of during 2021-2022. Phase com/towpath-trail/ Additionally, a TAP grant trail near Sunbury with a 1 is from Nelson Road/ request in partnership tentative 2022 construc- Alum Creek connection to Stark County: The Stark with the city of Orrville tion timeframe. Leonard Avenue. Phase County Park District has has been submittted 2 will be from Leonard to paved a couple sections to complete a 1.6 mile Licking County: the end of the path @ Ft that have been trouble- segment Construction on the Hayes/Cleveland Avenue. Licking Trailhead at some due to periods A recreational trails grant This is a complete rebuild of high water washing County Line Road will and includes improve- request is pending to begin 07/30/2021 away the trail surface. fund a restroom/pavilion ment of the crosswalks The newly paved sections near the 0.3 mile section This project is funded and safety of the path. are north of Canal Fulton being completed this year with both local and state Pavement markings that between the Stark and near the Marshallville funds. Summit County lines as include a designated bike Preserve walking trail lane will be added North well as a short piece of adjacent to the Heartland Licking County hopes to trail just south of Canal have some level of trail of along Trail. The finish date is McKinley Road to Eureka. Fulton near Lock 4 Park. 11/01/2022 built this year between Delaware and Knox Madison County: The Army Corps of Holmes County: County. It might be grass Engineers is working on Friends of Madison Approximately 4 miles or gravel. County Parks and Trails the flood easement levee of roadway section in Massillon and periodic Knox County: An ODNR are working with Madison between the trail head County Commissioners closures of the trail will in Glenmont towards Clean Ohio Fund grant be necessary throughout was awarded to construct to raise funds for land Killbuck Township Road acquisition to construct a 2021. The area affected 54 on State Route 520 the remaining 1.1 miles of is between Tremont Ave. the Heart of Ohio Trail to 1 mile segment in down- is funded thanks to the town London. Bridge and Lake Ave. efforts of the State of the Licking County line. A suggested detour is Ohio, Holmes County continued on page 3 available on the Route Park District, Ohio to Erie Alerts webpage at Trail board contributions, https://ohiotoerietrail. and local funding activ- org/updates/ ities such as the Holmes County annual auction. Massillon Area Greenways Construction is scheduled Inc (MAGI) is still plan- to begin sometime after ning on doing improve- July 1, 2021. ments to the trail and its environs as it enters Delaware County: A Massillon from the west. new 1.4 mile segment is scheduled to be finished Wayne County has by 11/30/2021. received state capital appropriation to fund a Design will start in spring, .3 mile segment and a construction in late small parking area and summer and fall Construction on the Heart of Ohio Trail in 2012.

page 2 Spring/Summer 2021 #63 Wednesdays. beverages, snack 29217 Mickley foods, and basic bicycle Road, Danville, supplies. Deli sandwiches Ohio 43014 are made to order. 8221 County Road 192, Cardinal Hill Holmesville, OH 44633 Grocery can be seen on the west side of the Holmes County Cycling in Amish Communities Trail 1-mile north of Holmesville The northern section of experiences you can and 3.5-miles south the Ohio to Erie Trail cuts experience on the trail. of Fredericksburg. The through one of America’s Amish bulk goods and Weaver’s Farm and largest Amish commu- grocery offers cyclists nities. Amish buggies Furniture is a short rela- and bicycles share this tively flat ½ miles from scenic portion of the trail. the Tiger Valley Road New Jackets Cyclists should respect crossing of the Mohican The official OTET jacket the privacy of the Amish Valley Trail. The deli is in stock now! Light by only taking photos offers made-to-order as feather and fit from a distance or from sandwiches. The deli’s for any weather, behind with no faces specialty is buttery soft the Superlight being recognizable. Here Amish pretzels that are Cycling are two unique Amish free, one per person, on Jacket is a favorite— and for continued from page 2 good reason! This wind- Hamilton County: Construction on this .4 proof and water-resistant Anderson Township mile segment is sched- custom cycling jacket is Ideal For 50 – 70 degree secured $750,000 from uled to start 3/14/21 the perfect three-season weather, the fabric is OKI (Ohio-Kentucky- and finish 8/31/22. companion. It’s made windproof and water-re- Regional Council sistant A 0.5 mile segment of from ultra-lightweight of Governments) to Don’t forget about our trail is under construc- Hypercloud fabric, construct a .35 mile new jerseys, t-shirts, and stick- tion as of early March features reflective piping trail access point from ers available in the shop and is scheduled to be for increased visibil- the planned Beechmont too! completed fall 2022. ity, and packs away in Bridge project to Elstun www.ohio- This section will link the seconds when the sun Road. ODOT District 8 is toerietrail. Little Miami Scenic Trail starts to shine. currently designing the org/shop. project with Anderson to Lunken Airport Trail, Township with an esti- Armleder Park Trail, and mated date of completion the . of 12/31/2024.

OKI, along with Great Parks of Hamilton County funded the Beechmont Bridge connection between the Little Miami Scenic Trail and Lunken Airport on 12/28/20. page 3 Spring/Summer 2021 #63 326 Club Feature On August 1-3, 2020 the trail he would like to the highlight of his trip Age at time of trip: 41 Mike Lowe of Powell, go back and ride again, was dipping his back tire Ohio completed the and stop along the way to in Lake Erie and then Bike: Trek Domane entire Ohio to Erie Trail enjoy the scenery more. dipping his front tire in Project One Road Bike (Cleveland to Cincinnati) the Ohio River two days In addition to complet- Direction traveled: as part of #MyPelotonia. later. Mike is signed up to North to South Traditionally, Mike would ing the Ohio to Erie Trail, ride 180 miles in Peloto- ride the 2-day 180 mile Mike raised $14,000 for nia in 2021 and has raised Experience prior to Ohio Pelotonia route, but due cancer research in 2020. $2200 this year, bringing to Erie Trail: YSC Tour to COVID, all riders were He has participated in his all-time fundraising de Pink, Pelotonia, and challenged to come up Training Rides with their own #MyPelo- tonia challenge. Biggest challenge on the trip: Getting back on Mike had always wanted the bike on day two in to complete the Ohio the cold rain. to Erie Trail, and 2020 seemed like a good opportunity to check it off of his bucket list. His #OH2ERIE original plan was to do the route over 4 days, but one of his Pelotonia donors challenged him to get it done in 3 days! The temperature for the ride was nice, but he had rain for the first 2 days. He Mike Lowe at Lake Erie stayed overnight at the Mt. Vernon Grand Hotel total to $82,000 If you’re and at the new Hampton Pelotonia for 8 years interested in joining Mike Inn in Xenia. and in those 8 years, he has helped raise $80,000 in raising funds to fight Since he had so many for cancer research. He cancer, you can view his miles to do in 3 days, he enjoyed tying together page here: pelotonia.org/ didn’t get a chance to do this great cause and the profile/ML0097 a lot of sightseeing, but legendary Ohio to Erie he kept a list of parts of trail. Mike reports that

Interested in miles) in one trip. If you and another segment the becoming a hiking, you can qualify other way). Take a photo member of the by hiking the trail in a of yourself (ideally at Lake 326 Club? single season. You can Erie or at the Ohio River) travel north to south or and e-mail it to us at your photo on our Club The only requirement south to north. You can [email protected] 326 webpage at ohioto- is to travel on wheels leapfrog (travel along along with your name erietrail.org/326-club/ the entire trail (326 one segment one way and hometown. We’ll put

page 4 Spring/Summer 2021 #63 Moffitt Memorial 2021 Registration is open for While 90% of the trail is Pricing: ride is that much of the seven-day, six-night essentially flat, there are The cost is variable, the cost is considered Moffitt Memorial annual some hills along the way depending on the date of to be a tax-deductable ride scheduled for that are typical for Ohio registration, ranging from DONATION. Food and Saturday, September 11 - cycling. $750 to $850. lodging are paid for by Friday, September 17. Overnight Lodging: A unique aspect of this the participants. To register: https://app. Riders stay at hotels at donorview.com/nbvGk special rates.

Tour Capacity: SAG (Support and 45 riders Gear): This ride is fully Daily Mileage: supported with luggage Distances range from 30 transfers, on-route to 67 miles. Shorter days vehicles, a mechanic and allow for a more leisurely OTET staff. Participants ride or site-seeing along only need to carry what the way. they will need for the day. Terrain: Support water and snack Trail surfaces are fine stops are about every 15 for road bikes, hybrids miles. and mountain bikes.

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The regional trails of the • Lower Scioto Greenway • Heart of Ohio Trail • Cleveland Lakefront Ohio to Erie Trail include: 3.0 miles 15.6 miles Bikeway (south to north) 2.1 miles • Downtown Connector • • Ohio River Trail 3.5 miles 14.3 miles Something you may 6.3 miles want to consider the next • Alum Creek Trail • Mohican Valley Trail time you come upon • Lunken Airport Trail 10.4 miles 4.5 miles an area where there is 1.0 mile • Westerville Bike & • Holmes County Trail maintenance or construc- • Little Miami Scenic Walk Route 22.5 miles tion happening on one Trail 2.8 miles of these trails… thank 54.8 miles • Salt Creek Trail them for their hard work • Genoa Trail 0.6 mile rather than complain • Prairie Grass Trail 4.7 miles about having your activ- 29.0 miles • Sippo Valley Trail ity disrupted. Better yet, • Hoover Scenic Trail 9.8 miles get involved with one of • 0.6 mile the Friends of the Trail 6.9 miles • O&E Canalway • Galena Brick Trail Towpath groups and volunteer • 0.5 mile 66.7 miles to keep the Ohio to Erie 15.3 miles Trail one of the premier • Sandel Legacy Trail • Centennial Lake Link Trail across State bike routes • Hilltop Connector 1.6 miles 0.4 mile in the country. 0.3 mile

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Board of Directors Executive Coordinator Lisa Daris Mike Groeber, Clark and Greene Counties, President Advisory Board Chris Haydocy, Franklin County, William Baker, Holmes County Vice President Bill Daehler, Franklin County Don Noble, Wayne County, Jim Flaherty, Delaware County Treasurer Melodee Kornacker, Franklin Jody Dzuranin, Franklin and County Madison County, Secretary Greg Lashutka, Franklin County Tom Alexander, Holmes County Mark Looney, Cuyahoga County Tom Bilcze, Knox County Mileage of trails vs. road- Don Mills, Hamilton County Tim Furey, Cuyahoga County way? Tom Offut, Lake County Wade Johnston, Hamilton Mary Plumley, Franklin County County Wayne Roberts, Madison County Ken Knabe, Cuyahoga County Charlie Ruma, Franklin County Ernie Lehman, Stark County Jim Schneider, Greene County Bob Niedenthal, At-Large Ted Short, Wayne County Jerry Rampelt, Franklin County Sam Speck, Franklin County Matt Simpson, Delaware County Bob Taft, Greene County Elizabeth Watts, Franklin County Ellen Tripp, Franklin County Brad Westall, Franklin County