Funding soon in place to connect Valley bike trail
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources awarded more than six million dollars in grants to help communities expand recreational opportunities.
A half million dollar state grant along with other state and federal grants plus $100.000 in matching funds will help pay for a four million dollar project to build an biking and hiking trail from Burton on Warren 's south side to connect with a section of trail already built in downtown Niles.
Trumbull Metro Parks Executive Director Zachary Svette, told WFMJ news the four mile section of trail will be over relatively flat terrain.
"We'll be cross over two rail bridges. We will be acquiring from CSX, so there will be some transition off of there, and really the rest of it is just flat terrain that might have curves in it," added Svette.
This section of bike trail will connect Trumbull with Mahoning and Ashtabula counties, and is part of the Western Reserve Greenway Trail.
We talked with people on the bike trail in Niles.
"I go up to Canfield and I go down the other way so a little more bike trail would probably be nice," said Larry Sorrentino from Mineral Ridge.
More property right of ways must be secured.
"We impacted the least amount of environmentally sensitive areas and we are going to be able ot mitigate off site. We are working on that process as we speak. We are in the midst of acquiring the properties right now. We hope to have everything wrapped up within the next three to six months," said Svette.
Construction could begin in late this year or next year, with completion in 2023.
Some property owners in Columbiana are fighting their property being seized by eminent domain saying their animals will be cut off from water, and their property cut in half. They are seeking use of an alternative route there.
When the project is complete the bike trail will connect four counties, and people will be able to bike or hike from Lake Erie to the Ohio River.
Svett told WFMJ that it took a team effort and added he worked with state and local law makers to obtain this $500.000 grant.
