MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Ariel-Foundation Park will hold an opening day reception on Saturday, March 31, in the Urton Clock House/Museum, from noon until 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be available.

While the park does not officially open for the 2018 season until Monday, April 2, this reception will be a time for the public to learn about upcoming events at the park like the free concert and movie series. Guests can also explore the Museum and discover volunteer opportunities.

During this time, Foundation Park Conservancy will also debut the brand new Learning Stations project, an ongoing collaborative effort among Kenyon College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Central Ohio Technical College faculty and students. Attendees can browse the learning stations online.

Several learning stations have been designed to enhance the on-site park experience for visitors of all ages, as well as provide an online educational tool for anyone, anywhere, to enjoy the holistic story about the park, the areas around it, and the Knox County community, including natural ecology, industrial history, society, and culture. Information about other sites in and around the park will be added in the future. More learning stations will be added over time and instructions on how to use them will be found in the park kiosks and on the park website.

For more information about the opening day reception or anything regarding Ariel-Foundation Park, please call 740-398-6603 or e-mail marketing@arielfoundationpark.org. Follow the park on Facebook for all the latest news and info.

Westerville, OH, March 23, 2018 – Join the Delaware County Friends of the Trail for a family-friendly trail ride or walk celebrating Galena’s newest trail on National Trail Opening Day, Saturday, April 7.

Area residents including families, those newer to bicycling and those interested in local trails are invited to gather at 10 a.m. at the Galena Brick Trail trailhead in the 200-block of North Walnut Street near the Galena Cemetery. DCFT will have light refreshments, tire pumps and basic bicycle tools available.

The approximately eight-mile bicycle route will include the newest section of the Galena Brick Trail with picturesque views from the railroad trestle high over Little Walnut Creek, Preservation Parks of Delaware County’s Hoover Scenic Trail beside Hoover Reservoir, and the tree-lined Genoa Trail in Genoa Township.

DCFT volunteers will lead the ride and provide an introduction to basic ride safety as well as a brief overview of the Ohio to Erie Trail in eastern Delaware County. The ride will be on trails except for short connections on Dustin, Old 3C and Plumb roads.  The ride will take approximately one hour based on an average speed of 10 to 12 miles per hour.

Ride participants must have helmets and should bring water and dress appropriately for the weather.

Those who prefer to walk are encouraged to stroll along the Galena Brick Trail, pause for views of the Little Walnut Creek and Hoover Reservoir in the distance and turn around where the trail meets Dustin Road.

The event may be cancelled in the event of rain or snow.

This sixth annual National Trail Opening Day is recognized by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to celebrate the kick off of the spring trail season where people across the nation hit their favorite trails for a ride, walk, run or special event.

The Ohio to Erie Trail spans the state from the Ohio River in the southwestern corner of the state to Lake Erie near Cleveland, with about 280 miles of paved trails and about 50 miles on streets and rural roads.

In Delaware County, the trail passes from Westerville through Galena and Sunbury toward a short planned connection in northwest Licking County and on to the Heart of Ohio Trail in Knox County. DCFT is working with the villages of Sunbury and Galena, Preservation Parks of Delaware County and the Ohio to Erie Trail Fund to complete the approximately 13-mile section of the Ohio to Erie Trail through the eastern part of the county.

The DCFT is a nonprofit trail advocacy group dedicated to the development and maintenance of multi-use trails for recreation and transportation in Delaware County. Learn more at dcft.org or visit us on Facebook.

Dr. Thomas Moffitt III, 1948-2017

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart  we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of OTETF Board of Directors President Tom Moffitt.  Tom passionately served as Board President for over 16 years and worked tirelessly to fulfill Ed Honton’s vision of a multi-purpose cross state trail/greenway.   Tom’s leadership and enthusiasm in working with local agencies and trail organizations to complete the Ohio to Erie Trail will forever be appreciated by present and future generations of trail users.  Tom was a devoted educator in the greater Cincinnati area for over 45 years and as many of you may know an avid cyclist.  He completed several cross county rides and rode the entire length of the Ohio to Erie Trail a number of times including this past September.  Tom will be greatly missed by all who knew him.  Ride in Peace Tom.

To view obituary: http://www.hodappfuneralhome.com/obituary/dr-thomas-l-moffitt-iii/

Columbus, Ohio, is setting itself up to be a model for connected, 21st-century cities with an eye on creating safe, equitable walking and biking routes across neighborhoods. Learn how its 180-mile developing trail system is opening up new avenues for health, transportation and exploration—and improving the quality of life for residents.

Produced by Rails to Trails magazine in partnership with DS Simon Media.

https://www.railstotrails.org/magazine/green-issue-2017/#columbus

On a hot and humid June 16 in Apple Creek, Ted Short, Norm Ream and Keith Workman posted the official
Ohio to Erie Trail signs.

For more news about the trails of Wayne County –

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/JULY–News-from-the-Trails.html?soid=1117453912242&aid=3LLw3uHAEm8

Click for more information

Will London be the next Trail Town in Ohio? Read more about their plans here –

http://www.fmcpt.com/02-Donations/Closing%20the%20Gap/Donations-ClosingTheGap.html

The 2016 Community Ties Bike Ride was a huge success with a record 463 riders who road a combined 25,684 miles. Thank to you everyone who came out to support DCFT!

Mark your calendars for the 15th Annual Community Ties Bike Ride on July 22, 2017!

Register for the 2017 Ride here!

All proceeds from the ride support multi-purpose trail development in Delaware County connecting with the statewide Ohio to Erie Trail. The ride features options of 31, 62 and 100 miles as well as an 8-mile Family Ride, and includes scenic areas, rare bird habitats, parks, new sections of the Ohio to Erie Trail, well-marked route maps and SAG vehicle. Registration is from 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. for the 31, 62, and 100 mile riders and 10 a.m. for the Family Ride.

The ride will start/end at Northside Community Church, northeast corner of S.R. 3 and Freeman Road in Westerville, site of the homemade lunch. Pre-registration cost is $30 per rider, or $40 for day-of registration. Eight-mile Family Ride pre-registration is $35, or $45 for day-of registration.

Click on the following routes for the 2016 rides are posted below. 2017 routes will be posted closer to the date of the ride.
35 mile ride
63 mile ride
105 mile ride

Past participants share what they love about the Community Ties ride:

“I must compliment you on your tremendous bike tour. This spring, at age 57, I decided that cycling was going to be my new fitness endeavor. I have participated in 5-6 organized rides and I have to say that I enjoyed your ride the best. All of your volunteers were as welcoming, friendly and informative as could possibly be. The many water stops were much appreciated. The lunch back at Northside Fellowship Church was homemade and perfect and delicious and the women that served the meal were awesome and so much fun to talk to.”

“Thanks for a great ride! The food was fabulous! The best I’ve tasted in decades.”

Registration

Registration includes a one-year membership to the Delaware County Friends of the Trail, the ride, and a catered lunch at the end of the ride. Click on the green button below for online registration or print the mail-in brochure found at the bottom of the page (brochure will not appear on mobile view of this website).

Register Here

The Village of Galena invites you to the grand re-opening of the Galena Brick Trail, improved with a $286,592 Clean Ohio Trail Fund grant and many local contributions, at noon October 26 at the Depot Lot, 268 N. Walnut St.
The Galena Brick Trail, starting at Dustin Rd. and ending at Holmes St., is a 1/2 mile trail on the old Penn Central Railroad bed. This section of the Ohio to Erie Trail traverses a historic 145’ long railroad bridge high over Little Walnut Creek featuring scenic views. A deck, built on the old railroad water tower base, offers a peaceful, wooded picnic location overlooking the Hoover Nature Preserve.
The paved trail continues through Miller Park which features a train themed playground, a gazebo, basketball and volleyball courts, a .4 mile paved walking path, picnic facilities, a port-a potty, and parking. Galena Brick Trail and Miller Park facilities are available free on a first come, first served basis. Visitors may also enjoy Galena’s downtown restaurants and retail as well as the scenic Hoover Boardwalk.
North of Holmes St., the trail, which runs past the historic site of the Galena Shale Tile and Brick factory, becomes a .3 mile grass walking path with future plans to pave the trail and eventually connect it to the Sandel Legacy Trail in Sunbury.
Those helping to make the trail possible include the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Delaware County Commissioners, the Delaware County Economic Development Department, Delaware County Friends of the Trail, the Village of Galena, Preservation Parks of Delaware County, the Ohio to Erie Trail Fund, the Delaware County Foundation, the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, the Sunbury Galena Rotary Club, CT Consulting, the Righter Company, Law Excavating, and all the people who donated to a Go Fund Me campaign.

For many years, trail visitors dreaded Broad Street in Columbus. The wait is finally over! The Camp Chase Trail has taken the trail off of Broad Street! See details about the latest segment to be finished here.

The 12th annual Benefit Auction for the Holmes County Rails-to-Trail Coalition is set for Saturday, June 11, starting at 9:30. Bring your friends and family and join us for a Saturday of enjoyment and make an investment in Holmes County’s unique non-motorized transportation and recreation corridor.

Other activities include breakfast and 5K.

Auction items include Play Mor Swing Set, Buggy, Hustler Walk Behind Mower with 48″ deck, BCS 718 16HP Honda 18″ with Tiller , Open Surrey, Lawn Furniture, Grandfather Clock, and a log cabin.

Auction Brochure: http://holmestrail.com/images/2016_Auction_Brochures.pdf

For more info: www.holmestrail.org

The trail is always in need of help to maintain it for all to use. We are looking for volunteers who would take on one of the following for the summer. Some of these are needed weekly. If you don’t have that much time maybe you could partner with someone else to alternate. If you can help let us know here and we can make arrangements, in some cases we have equipment or help with gas money. Thanks for your consideration for helping out HOOT.

Heart of Ohio Trail Maintenance
Mow berms and road approaches from Mt. Liberty to Clayton Street in Centerburg, and around brick storage building at Memorial Park.

Mow berms and road approaches from Mt. Liberty to Columbus Road in Mt. Vernon, and the parking and playground areas at Simmons’s Church and Thayer roads.

Mow berms , road approaches, and trail end parking lot on the trail from Clayton St in Centerburg to Huffman road.

Trim fence lines on both sides of Clayton St in Centerburg.

Trim fence lines on both sides of SR 314 in Centerburg.

Trim fence line, bike rack, parking blocks, and playground area at Simmons Church road access area in Mt Liberty.

Trim parking blocks, bike rack, and sign area at Thayer road access area.

Empty trash containers at Clayton St and SR 314 in Centerburg.

Trim vegetation back and/or spray all bridges with herbicide.

Remove trees along trail to at least 10 feet from the edge of the blacktop. (Those marked with orange X or banded.)

Trim vegetation back in late summer with bar chain.

Centerburg Stop on OTET Ride