WARREN, Ohio - A ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday night marks the completion of a Trumbull County bike trail connecting bikers to a 100-mile-long trail.

The south end of the trail is finished for visitors to enjoy.

"Across the nation where bike trails have gone in they've improved property values and improved the quality of life in that area," said Trumbull County Parks Commissioner John Brown Jr.

The Warren leg is part of making the connection for bikers to travel the Great Ohio Lake-to-River Greenway, that will one day reach Lake Erie.

On the current trail, bikers can travel from Ashtabula County to East Liverpool.

"We have to complete a patch between Warren and Niles, and then there are some portions south of here in Columbiana County that need to be completed but our portion is getting very close to being done," said Brown.

The south end was phase two of the Warren trail upgrades. The City's Mayor said the project began in 2005 and has been a long road for the city.

"We spent $250-thousand on our trail head that's at North End Park, and another $3.5 million on the trail itself," said Mayor Doug Franklin. "That's why it's taken so long. We've had to apply for funding during various stages of the project."

Both phases of the project were funded by federal dollars. Many now hope the trail will pave the way for potential tourist dollars.

"I've talked to people both in Ashtabula and over in Franklin and Emlenton, Pennsylvania, where I ride along the river,"said Cyclist Harry Reibold. "They're interested in coming over here to try our trail, which in turn brings some economy, brings some economics to the town."

"We use it quit often," said Cyclist Gladys Antonelli. "We found a way to ride from our home into town and we use the local restaurants when we do that, then ride back. It's like a little special treat at the end of the trail."