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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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ODNR RECOMMENDS 17 RECREATIONAL TRAIL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR FEDERAL FUNDS
Highest amounts go to trails in the
City of East Cleveland, Fayette and Summit counties
COLUMBUS, OH -- Seventeen community trail projects will soon share a total of $1,124,500 in grants from the national Recreational Trails Program, following recommendations by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The grants support a variety of projects to improve or expand recreational trail systems across Ohio.
"These federal dollars will help strengthen Ohio's growing system of recreational trails," said ODNR Director Sam Speck. "Selected projects will benefit all trail users, including hikers, bicyclists and those who ride off-road vehicles."
Funded by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, the Recreational Trails Program is administered in Ohio by ODNR, which reviews local applications and recommends grant recipients for final federal approval. That approval is expected in the next several months.
The federal government provides up to 80 percent reimbursement for trail projects through each grant, while local project sponsors are responsible for the remainder. A portion of the federal gasoline tax supports the grant program.
Among ODNR's largest recommendations for 2003 are $141,000 to the City of East Cleveland for Forest Hills Park trails; $130,000 to the Fayette County commissioners for the Fayette County Connector Trail between the Ross County line and the City of Washington, C.H. (part of the Tri-County Triangle Trail); and $120,000 to the Metro Parks Serving Summit County to extend the Sand Run Jogging Trail.
Approximately 130 local trail projects across Ohio have received a total of $7.7 million in federal funds through ODNR since the Recreational Trails Program began in 1993.
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RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM 2003 FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS
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| Ashland County |
$70,000 |
ODNR Division of Forestry |
Mohican-Memorial State Forest |
To restore and construct multiple-use trails and develop a trailhead facility for mountain bikes and snowmobiles. |
| Cuyahoga County |
$141,000 |
City of East Cleveland |
Forest Hills Park trails |
To rehabilitate existing trails and construct two new trails. |
| Fayette County |
$130,000 |
Fayette County Commissioners |
Fayette County Connector Trail |
Prepare and install crushed limestone on six miles of the Tri-County Triangle Trail. |
| Franklin County |
$44,500 |
Village of New Albany |
New Albany Trails |
To construct approximately one mile of trail between SR605 and the Plain Twp. Pool and Recreation Center through Swickard Woods Park. |
| Hamilton County |
$90,000 |
Cincinnati Park Board
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Mt. Airy Forest/Kirby Valley Trail
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To construct three miles of unpaved hiking path and trail-side facilities connecting Mt. Airy with a series of open spaces in Cincinnati. |
| Henry/Lucas counties |
$25,000
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ODNR Division of Forestry
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Maumee State Forest Bridle Trails
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To expand two parking lots, replace wooden bridges with culvert pipes and reroute a quarter-mile of bridle path. |
Highland County
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$10,000
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Ohio Historical Society
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Gorge Trail restoration |
To restore the four-mile Gorge Trail by building two sections of steps, re-grading sections and adding boardwalk and culverts elsewhere. |
| Hocking County |
$70,000
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USDA Forest Service |
Monday Creek Inner Dorr trails |
To construct and maintain 10.5 miles of APV trails in the Monday Creek Inner Dorr APV area. |
Hocking County
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$20,000
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USDA Forest Service
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Monday Creek APV trails
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To construct two miles of new APV trail in the Monday Creek area. |
Lawrence County
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$79,000
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USDA Forest Service
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Hanging Rock APV trails
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To restore and maintain 11 miles of trails in the Hanging Rock APV area.
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Lawrence/Scioto counties
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$64,000
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USDA Forest Service
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Pine Creek APV trails
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To restore and maintain eight miles of trails in the Pine Creek APV area.
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Mahoning County
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$90,000
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Ohio State Parks
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Lake Milton Nature Trail
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To construct 900 feet of trail along Mahoning Avenue and 1,094 feet of boardwalk to an existing fishing pier.
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Mercer County
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$80,000
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Ohio State Parks
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West Bank Trail
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To construct a half mile, 10-foot wide asphalt path along the western embankment of Grand Lake St. Marys. |
Perry County
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$48,000
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ODNR Division of Forestry
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Perry State Forest
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To purchase a hydraulic excavator for APV trail maintenance.
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Pike County
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$11,000
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ODNR Division of Forestry
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Pike State Forest
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To construct a restroom at Pike State Forest APV area.
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Pike/Jackson counties
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$32,000
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ODNR Division of Forestry
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Pike and Richland Furnace state forests |
To purchase a one-ton dump truck for state forest APV area maintenance.
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Summit County
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$120,000
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Metro Parks Serving Summit County
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Sand Run Jogging Trail
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To extend the existing trail a half mile, build a 50-car asphalt parking lot and other trailside facilities. |
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For Further Information Contact:
Bill Daehler, ODNR Trails Coordinator
(614) 265-6402
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860
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