PICTURE THIS.....
A 100-mile long green band of protected open space running through fertile farmlands, lush woodlands, over gently rolling hills, and alongside scenic waterways.
The Greenway will span four counties, including Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
This greenway, built on former railroad lines and adjacent corridors, will someday connect Lake Erie at Ashtabula Harbor with the Ohio River at East Liverpool. When complete, this linkage will provide transportation benefits and year-round recreational use for Northeast Ohioans for generations to come.
*****UPDATE*************************************************************
Check out Ashtabula's plans for Phase II construction in 2004!!!!
On Monday afternoon, July 15, 2002, the first section of the Ashtabula County Western Reserve Greenway was officially opened. View pictures of the opening dedication ceremony and newly constructed trail.
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Wheels Finally Roll for Ashtabula County
After years of planning and waiting, starts and stops, close calls and headaches, work on the Ashtabula County Western Reserve Greenway has begun. Dozens of government officials, civic group leaders, friends and contractor representatives attended a groundbreaking ceremony on December 6, 2001. The construction contract for this project was awarded to Koski Construction. A Grand Opening celebration has been scheduled for July, 2002. Kevin Grippi, Administrator for the Ashtabula County Parks District, said "The time has come to build a new kind of park for Ashtabula County - a 27-mile long linear park that will link communities and improve our quality of life".
The two-county, 48-mile long Western Reserve Greenway passes through Ashtabula and Trumbull County on a former Penn Central 714 right-of-way. The State of Ohio owns the corridor and long-term leases it to the local park districts. The proposed trails are a part of the Great Ohio Lake-to-River Greenway, a 100-mile trail running from the shores of Lake Erie in Ashtabula to the banks of the Ohio River in East Liverpool.
Brobst Tree Service of Saybrook, Ohio, a Sub-Contractor for Koski Construction has the job of clearing and preparing the trail for construction. Union Industrial Contractors of Ashtabula will install new decks on the former railroad bridges, including an impressive span near Rock Creek. "It's a really exciting milestone for the greenway," said Charlie Kohli, long-time commissioner for the Ashtabula County Parks District. "After nearly 12 years of planning and hard work, this is the closest we have come to actually starting work on the trail."
Koski Construction, Brobst Tree Service and Union Industrial Contractors are working on Phase I of the project, a $1.25 million dollar effort funded by a mix of federal and local dollars that are already in place. Phase I includes paving for about 8 miles of the trail, fencing, bridge decking and road crossings. Officials say Phase II could start in fall, 2002. Phase II includes paving about 8 miles of the trail near Austinburg, Rock Creek and Orwell Village, and installing signs for the entire trail.
Although federal dollars for Phase II are in place, Grippi said the total local match -about $250,000- is still in question. "We hope a lot of our supporters are able to come through again." the administrator said. "Things are changing everyday; the climate is certainly a lot different than it was a year ago."
If you would like more information on the progress of trail planning in Ashtabula County, contact Kevin Grippi.
Trumbull County's proposed greenway spans Champion, Bristol and Bloomfield Townships. Funding for this project was made available through grants from the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the State Capital Budget and the Wean Foundation. The Friends of the Western Reserve Greenway and the Trumbull County Commissioners also donated funds towards the greenway.
Phase I of the Trumbull County Section of the Western Reserve Greenway; part of the planned 100-mile long Great Ohio Lake-To-River Greenway; is expected to be completed by mid-November 2003. A Trail Dedication Ceremony has been scheduled for November 10, 2003 at 10:00 A.M. at the State Route 305 Staging Area in Champion Township (east of State Route 45 at the intersection of State Route 305 and the Western Reserve Greenway Trail). Parking for bikers wishing to participate is available at Clarence Darrow Park on Educational Highway in Champion Township just north of the Kent State University Trumbull Campus. For those not riding bikes, transportation from the Clarence Darrow parking area to State Route 305 for the ceremony will be provided. At State Route 305, parking spaces are limited for use by event speakers and the handicapped.
DLZ OHIO, Inc. conducted the Engineering Phase for the 14.65 mile length of the Trumbull County Western Reserve Greenway. DLZ OHIO, Inc. Funding for the Engineering Phase originated with Trumbull County's Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization; Eastgate Regional Council of Governments. The Surface Transportation (STP) Funding Allocation distributed through Eastgate's office paid for eighty percent of the design engineering and environmental review process. The required twenty percent match for the STP funds was provided through the excellent fund raising efforts of the Friends of the Western Reserve Greenway Group who raised all together almost $27,000. The Raymond John Wean Foundation matched dollar for dollar the amount of money collected by the Friends of the Western Reserve Greenway Group. The Trumbull County Commissioners dedicated almost $5,000 towards the twenty percent match as well.
Construction along the former 714 Penn Central railroad right-of-way is almost completed. The funds for construction originate with the Ohio Department of Transportation District IV State Transportation Enhancement Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Federal Aid Program. Shelly & Sands, Inc. were awarded the construction contract in June 2003 in the amount of $1,316,610. The federal aid funds, up to a maximum of $1,077,868, are used to pay eighty percent of the construction costs; including construction administration and inspections. The final contract costs for constructing 8.4 miles of the trail amounted to $1,374,716.77 (due to 3 change orders) with Transportation Enhancement funds covering eighty percent of $1,269,716.77 and the remaining $105,000 (for construction of two parking areas) being funded one hundred percent through the Trumbull County Metro Parks Road Tax Allocation.
Phase II construction of the Western Reserve Greenway extends the paved trail from Hyde-Oakfield Road in Bristol Township to the Trumbull/Ashtabula County line and is expected to cost approximately $1,150,000. The Trumbull County Metropolitan Park Board is working with the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments in order to secure funding for the second phase of construction.
In addition, the Metropolitan Park Board is working on constructing a Pole Building at State Route 305. The Trumbull County Metro Parks received a Capital Budget Grant in 2001 for improvements along the Western Reserve Greenway. These funds are being utilized to construct a pole building, install two pavilions and purchase picnic tables, grills, trash receptacles, etc. The building includes an area for the storage of maintenance vehicles and machinery as well as a concession area and a colonnade resting area. Two pavilions will be installed at the Hyde-Oakfield and Clarence Darrow parking areas. Miscellaneous park items will be purchased with the remaining capital budget grant funds, if any.
The City of Warren has completed a section of the Warren River Walk near Packard Park. The Warren Community Development Office plans to extend the Warren River Walk to Burbank Park in the northern part of the city and to Stewart Park in the southern part of the city. The bike route will then resume along the former Conrail line at Union Cemetery until it runs into the Niles portion of the Great Ohio Lake-to-River Greenway.
The City of Niles is working on acquiring sections of rail lines in order to connect the Warren River Walk to the Mahoning County Mill Creek Metro Parks bike trail at County Line Road in Weathersfield Township. Niles is programmed to begin construction in FY2006 which equates to July 1, 2005. The City of Niles is currently reviewing Statements of Qualification from area engineering firms to decide which firm is most qualified for the job of designing the Niles/Weathersfield Greenway. The proposed Niles Greenway extends south from Niles' northern city limits through Mineral Ridge until it connects with Mahoning County.
The City of Girard is also working on developing a former section of the B & O rail line into a multi-use bike trail. Phase I of the project stretches north from the viaduct at East Liberty Street to the Niles City limits, including the Weathersfield Township portion of the rail line.
If you would like more information on the progress of trail planning in Trumbull County, contact Julie Green.
View a map depicting the proposed and planned bike trail routes in Trumbull County
The Mahoning Bikeway follows the former Conrail line that crosses through the center of Mahoning County. The 10.6 mile long, asphalt surface trail offers a wide variety of scenery, including farmlands, small towns and wildlife habitat. Owned and operated by Mill Creek Metro Parks, this trail is ideal for nature hikes, trail rides and community events. The Mahoning Bikeway is one section of the proposed Great Ohio Lake-to-River Greenway, a 100+ mile, north-south trail that will reconnect a four-county area in Northeast Ohio. This trail system will run through Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana Counties. If you would like more information on the progress of trail planning in Mahoning County, contact Mill Creek Metro Parks' Executive Director, Susan Dicken. Click here to view photos of the newly constructed Kirk Road Staging Area.
Paving is planned for 8/10ths of a mile between the Village of Leetonia and Franklin Square (State Route 558). This project is funded through Recreational Trails, a grant program administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and local funds. Columbiana County is also working on the acquisition of 9/10ths of a mile of right-of-way between the Village of Leetonia and the Village of Washingtonville. This project is being funded through local funds and private donations. Bids are being accepted for the renovation of a historic covered bridge and 32-car parking lot at Eagleton Road. This project is scheduled for construction in Summer 2002 and is funded through a Transportation Enhancement grant and local funds.
If you would like more information on the progress of trail planning in Columbiana County, contact David Goerig.