|
6 Planning May 2001
<br /> Ring around the hay bicycling community developed the idea of
<br /> There is perhaps no better way to explore the Ohio to Erie Trail, a 460 -mile continuous -
<br /> northern California's Bay Area than along the statewide corridor from the Ohio River to G `
<br /> a
<br /> San Francisco Bay Trail . Connecting the ur- Lake Erie . The route links Cincinnati , Co - x ram,
<br /> ban waterfronts of San Francisco , Oakland, lumbus, and Cleveland along former canal
<br /> and San Jose to over 130 parks and open space and railroad rights-of-way, passing through M`
<br /> preserves, the trail follows the edge of the the park systems of the three cities, as well as ° 4 _ � 7 ,: ;
<br /> s :,,u+ `
<br /> West Coast's largest estuary. When the 400 - historic towns , state parks , and a national a t - ` V '
<br /> g we
<br /> mile path is complete, a continuous network recreation area. Approximately 200 miles have �
<br /> of hiking and biking trails will link the shore- been completed .
<br /> lines of nine counties and 47 cities . It will " In the end, our mission is to go out of Some 200 miles ofthe
<br /> span seven toll bridges . business, " says Randy Bennett, vice-president proposed 460-mile Ohio to
<br /> The idea for the Bay Trail dates from 1987, of the Ohio to Erie Trail Fund, which was Erie Trail are in place. Above,
<br /> when state senator Bill Lockyer introduced established in 1991 to provide direction for a bridge over the Olentangy
<br /> legislation directing the area' s regional plan- the project. " Once the trail is adopted and River where it meets the Scioto j
<br /> ning agency, the Association of BayArea Gov- constructed by the local authorities , we will river in Franklin County. Cc
<br /> ernments , to develop a plan and an imple- have completed our goal. " Downtown Columbus is in
<br /> mentation program for a bicycle and pedestrian The development of the Ohio to Erie Trail the background. Below: the Plain
<br /> trail that would form a "ring around the Bay. " is the responsibility of the 30 counties and Mohican Valley Trail near
<br /> Passage of the bill signaled the start of an numerous cities and towns the trail alignment the village ofBrinkhaven at
<br /> extensive public planning process . Represen- passes through. Many jurisdictions, such as the border ofKnox County
<br /> tatives of local governments , regional agen- Greene County, located east of Dayton , have and Holmes County. � ➢ Q
<br /> cies, community groups , and environmental incorporated the trail into their general plans .
<br /> organizations worked together to develop the Greene County,`one of the strongest support
<br /> Bay Trail Plan , setting forth the proposed ers of the trail in the state , has completed 19 of Xenia
<br /> trail alignment and policies to guide its imple- the 23 . 5 miles within its borders , including a
<br /> mentation , segment of the popular Little Miami River O lo ,(10
<br /> The plan was adopted by ABAG in 1989 , Scenic'Trail ,
<br /> and the following year the Bay Trail Project The county commissioners have taken an ®t�tf 1
<br /> was created as a nonprofit organization with an active role in supporting local trails , " says Jim Clne�lln. t `
<br /> Milford
<br /> -independent board of directors, administered Schneider, trail manager for the Greene County
<br /> byABAG and housed in its Oakland offices, to Park District. In 1997 , the county and five of
<br /> plan and promote the trail . To date, 215 miles its jurisdictions adopted an agreement giving
<br /> have been completed. `R
<br /> the park district control of over 48 miles of
<br /> From the beginning, the project has had trail; including the Ohio to Erie corridor. In
<br /> strong political support. "The BayTrail touches addition the county has entered into an a ree-
<br /> the home district of a large group of legisla- ment with adjacent Clark and Madison coup-
<br /> .__
<br /> tors , giving it a broad base of elected officials ties for a 23110mile extension to Lilly Chapel,
<br /> who appreciate local ribbon cuttings and whose just west of Columbus . k:�
<br /> districts benefit from a completed regional Last year, the Ohio legislature with sup- J <z
<br /> 7sKsi
<br /> trail, " notes project manager Janet McBride, port from Gov. Bob Taft, earmarked $ 2 mil- "' :
<br /> AICP . Most jurisdictions along the corridor lion of the state 's Capital Improvements Fund
<br /> have incorporated the alignment into their for the extension . The Ohio to Erie Trail
<br /> " Xy'
<br /> Imp
<br /> general plans and have adopted resolutions in Fund worked hard to secure this money and ', � 'h � .rQ ;m �.: : F
<br /> TANIL I. tiw' it
<br /> .
<br /> support of the trail . continues to seek additional state funds to
<br /> The trail also " benefits from having sup- complete other segments of the trail .
<br /> porters in both houses of the legislature and Now, says Randy Bennett, "we must con-
<br /> on key committees , including natural resources, vince the state's newly elected officials that grasslands , and mountain ranges . "The diver-
<br /> , transportation , and budget, " says McBride . the trail is important to their constituencies . " sity of the trail is what makes it unique, " says
<br /> California senator Liz Figueroa (D -Fre- The trail fund has established " Friends of the Larry Snead, executive director of the Arizona
<br /> mont) has assumed the role of former senator Trail" groups in most counties along the cor- Trail Association, the nonprofit group founded
<br /> Lockyer as legislative champion of the Bay ridor to educate the public about the trail and in 1994 to promote the trail , which is used
<br /> Trail . With her support , and that of Gov. win political support for additional segments . mainly by hikers and horseback riders . Moun-
<br /> Gray Davis , the project has to date received tain bikes are allowed outside of designated
<br /> over $ 10 million in state funding. Trekking Arizona wilderness areas .
<br /> The 790 -mile Arizona Trail crosses the state Arizona State Parks, as the state parks de
<br /> Buckeye style from Utah to the Mexican border. The trail partment is known, first voiced its support for
<br /> Political support for a long- distance trail has connects three national parks and four na- a statewide trail in 1988 . Since then, 590
<br /> also played a key role in Ohio , where the tional forests and offers scenic views of deserts , miles of trail have been officially designated.
<br />
|