Miami Valley RailTrails Newsletter
July  2002

Dear Miami Valley RailTrails List Readers - 27 July  2002 and its raining in Dayton, Ohio. That's odd. When I was writing the June newsletter it was raining as well. I wonder if nature is trying to tell us something. This Summer has been difficult. Either, and most of the time, it's been beastly hot which has made me find the shadier trails, or it's been pouring down rain when I want to ride like today. 

New on Miami Valley RailTrails site. 
First I'm going to tell you about what is new on the Miami Valley RailTrails site. 

•  Since last month I've gotten new pictures and descriptions of the trail construction on the North Miami Bikeway Trail  page. Five Rivers MetroParks are continuing construction of the trail South from the Huber Height Soccer Fields the current Southern terminus of the trail. See the page. I'm still trying to get pictures of what is now called the Simon Kenton Trail (extension) which runs North from where it dead-ends into the Buck Creek Trail.  I have information about both the Buck Creek Trail in Clark County page. The new trail will eventually meet up with the with the Simon Kenton Trail which now ends at the Cedar Bog and runs North to State Route 55. The Simon Kenton Trail will run North and end at the City of Urbana, Ohio. Today was the day I was planning to finally get pictures of this 2.4 miles of new trail. 
   

• New Construction on the Creekside Recreation Trail . -If you read last month's missive you know that Five Rivers Metroparks was working to make the trail crossing at Springfield Street and  Smithville Roads, just outside Eastwood MetroPark safer. They have accomplished their goal and the new trail section is great! I've gotten pictures and as soon as I get them I'll put them on the page with a description for you. 

New Trail Construction -Here I get to tell you about what trails are being built for your cycling (walking, running and rollerblading pleasure)

• First. If you haven't already noticed it, Greene County Parks & Recreation has been resurfacing the trail in the County. To my knowledge the Creekside Trail and Little Miami Scenic Trail have been treated.
  
  

• Extension of Great Miami River Recreation Trail to Franklin. The Miami Conservancy District announced that they plan to begin construction of the four mile extension of the trail to Franklin by second quarter of 2003. The Great Miami River Recreation Trail    currently ends at Crains Run MetroPark on Dixie Highway in Miami Township. Eventually the trail will be constructed 18 miles to connect with an existing trail in Hamilton. It is hoped that this trail can be eventually built all the way to the Ohio River. I have the Conservancy's brochure on the Great Connection as they have called it on the website. 
  
  

• Miami 2 Miami Trail. I've told you previously of a plan in Warren County to built a bicycle trail from the Little Miami Scenic Trail West to connect with the Great Miami River Recreation Trail. Well they were seeking public comments recently at a public meeting. The proposed trail will pass through Lebanon, Mason and Deerfield Township in Warren County. Then the trail will go  through Fairfield, Hamilton and West Chester townships in Butler County.  
  

Other News  This is other news in the area that affects trail use. 

• New Little Miami Scenic Trail Brochure - The convention and visitor's bureaus of Clark, Clermont, Greene and Warren counties got together to build a brochure about the Little Miami Scenic Trail. According to the bureaus over 250,000 people a year use the trail. The document which includes a good map of the trail is available by calling the Greene County Convention and Visitor's Bureau at (937) 429-9100 or (800) 733-9109. 

Well. That's about all for July 2002. 

If this bicycle trail newsletter provides you with information you can use pass it on to a friend. Anyone can become a  member of my mailing list by going to my website at Join Our Mailing List and following the instructions you'll find there. You'll also see my recent articles in case you missed one. 


Tom Recktenwalt
Miami Valley Rail Trails
http://www.miamivalleytrails.org