Dear Members and Friends of the Trail:
Now that the weather is starting to abate,
it is time to focus on some trail business, but we also have some fun things scheduled.
While I was golfing and biking in Florida a few
weeks ago, two very significant items were discussed by the membership at our last meeting. We have a $100,000 grant from
the State of Ohio which was received too late for construction to be completed in 2007.
It is not enough money to pave the approx. 5 - 6 miles that connects the Ross and Fayette
County portions of trail. Gary Merkamp suggested the money be used to grade the
trail and lay crushed limestone. That way the two sections of trail would be connected and the money would not be wasted because
that work would eventually need to be done in preparation for future paving. The motion was passed. Gary
thinks the work can be finished by August 2008.
The other item of importance was the grant
that Greenfield has had for more than two years to buy the right-of-way from Musselman
Station to Greenfield. CSX has not been selling properties to trail groups anywhere
in the United States so a purchase agreement is unlikely.
Rather than let the grant expire it was voted to apply for a reassignment of the grant to develop approx. 2 to 4 miles of
trail from Greenfield toward Washington C. H. Greenfield is concerned about the
expense the city would incur to maintain, mow and police the additional trail. A grant that is worth over $205,000, with the
Tri-County Triangle Trail's match included, is too important to the community to be lost. We would suggest that a Park District
be formed to take care of such problems. Local volunteer maintenance is a possible temporary solution. A lot of interested
people have worked long and hard to get Greenfield hooked into the trail. If any
of you would be willing to help in this endeavor, please contact us. Your help could be vital to facilitate this development.
The bridge over High Street (St. Rt. 104) in
Chillicothe is still on schedule to be completed in early 2008.
Now, the fun things. Some of our members
are organizing a Half Marathon for April 19. It will start at Brad Lightle
Park in Frankfort and be run completely
on the trail. All profits from the event will be used for further trail development. The event planners intend to make this
an annual event so lets help in any way we can to make it a big success. We could use volunteers to bake cookies, and help
may be needed to man aid stations along the route. Contact one of the organizers or one of us if you want to help. An application
is enclosed and includes all pertinent information.
Our annual Tri-County Triangle Trail bike
ride is coming up on August 17 and we expect ALL of you to make it this year. Again, we need cookie bakers to help feed the
hungry bikers.
On a more somber note, we recently lost a pillar
of our organization. Tom Mark from Washington C. H. was a fine gentleman, and a charter member of our group. He worked tirelessly
towards trail development and other projects in his community. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
We need to recruit some of our members to become
more active workers. Do you have an interest in trash pick-up along the trail? We also have a large perennial flower garden
at the Austin trailhead that needs a caretaker. We need people to attend meetings,
help make decisions, and work toward fund raising and work and trail development. Occasionally we need people to make public
presentations. If you have interest or suggestions, please call 740-775-9322 or 740-774-3008 or e-mail: doubled@horizonview.net.
The Bike Shop in Chillicothe
will give a 10% discount to all Tri-County Triangle Trail members. Let's get our bikes and bodies in shape and make this a
summer to remember. See you on the trail.
Delbert J. Doles, V.P. & Recording
Secy.
Tri-County Triangle Trail
