Miami Valley RailTrails Newsletter December 2002

Miami Valley RailTrails Newsletter
December 2002

Dear Miami Valley RailTrails List Readers - 27 December 2002 Merry Christmas to All!

There is 3" of snow outside my window and I'd don't expect that many of you are using the "multi-use" trails, as they are now known, currently. I run on the Creekside Trail in Beavercreek when the surface is not too slippery. And I know a few brave souls that ride their bikes to work during the Winter.

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

Because of Christmas I spent the last few months scanning about 200 family photos to make a family calendar, a family website using all the photos and a family screensaver using about 25 of them. The finished product was a calendar and a CD which contained the website and screensaver. But I was able to get the pictures of the Simon Kenton Trail in Clark County finished.
If you'll remember my previous articles (look on the website at:
( http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/Join Our Mailing List.htm )
Champaign County is building the Simon Kenton Trail North and South between Urbana, the County Seat, and Springfield, County Seat for Clark County. The Champaign County portion is complete from the Cedar Bog to State Route 55 a 2.5 mile distance. In Clark County the trail starts at the Buck Creek Trail, which connects Buck Creek State Park to downtown Springfield. I call the trail the Simon Kenton Trail in Clark County.

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

As you can see from above the Simon Kenton Trail in Clark County was built in 2001 and dedicated April 2002. And I finally got a web page with pictures up on the site.

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

On the 17th of December 2002 the new Wright Brothers Historical Interpretive Center opened at the Wright Brothers Memorial which is on Wright Patterson Air Force Base property. It if on Kauffman Avenue off State Route 444 in Fairborn. They opened it on the 99th. anniversary of the first flight at Kitty Hawk, NC. After they made their first flight they came back to Dayton, where in their own words; "we really learned how to fly." The Wrights obtained the use of a part of the Huffman Prairie and used the local Interurban trail to travel to what was called Sims Station. That meadow, now located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was the first flying field. The Wrights improved their aircraft and eventually opened a school where they taught others to fly. Until recently the Wright Brothers Flying Field was off limits to the public. But as of the 17th. of December that area of the base is now public property under the National Parks Service. What is more important to cyclists and other trail users, is that for the first time, you will be able to ride on the base from the gate next to Huffman MetroPark dam. There is an old road on the East end of the dam that runs about 200 yards downhill along the Mad River until it reaches the base perimeter fence. There is a gate here that will be open during the day for your use. Once the Mad River Trail is extended North from Eastwood MetroPark where it currently ends, you';; be able to ride directly to the Flying Field.

Well. That's about all for December 2002. Soon it will be another season to use our wonderful trail system. And I will be writing about it for your use.

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. All of my articles are available on the Join Our Mailing List page on the website.

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

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