The Marion County Park District received $100,000 to develop the first mile of a twelve mile paved multi-purpose trail. This trail, the Marion Tallgrass Prairie Trail (known also as the Phoebe Snow trail) will run from the west side of Marion to the Hardin County line.

Park Director, Karen Kelley, was in Cuyahoga Falls for the announcement.

"We are making good progress on getting Marion County's first recreational trail in place," explained Kelley. "In April we were awarded $312,000 from the Ohio Public Works Commission Clean Ohio Fund to purchase the abandoned rail corridor the trail will be built on. This money we have been awarded today will get the first mile down, replete with shelters, restrooms, park benches and hopefully the beginning of a visitor center building. Now we must finish pulling together our matching monies required by these grants so we can get started."

To date several local companies, private individuals and organizations have stepped forward to contribute to the park district fund raising program that is raising $150,000 in matching grant monies.

"We want to thank the Marion Community Foundation, Nucor Steel, Marion area Kiwanis, Rotary, Heart of Ohio Tailwinds Bicycle Club, Schifer, Jones and Jester Architects for helping us get the ball rolling for the matching grants. I anticipate that with similar help from other organizations and companies in the area we should be ready to break ground next year," said Kelley.

The park district is anticipating the award of one more grant this year to purchase park maintenance equipment.

Director Kelley noted, "Considering we don't even own a garden hoe right now, I think we are doing pretty good. Volunteer help has supported the park district very well. The third grant, if we are awarded it, will allow us to purchase a mower, a Gator, a spraying unit and trailers. We don't have a truck right now so I'll have to pull the equipment with my little old Jeep. But maybe next year we can find a way to get a truck for the county park district."