The Marion County Park District announced today that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has conditionally awarded a $500,000 Clean Ohio Trails Fund grant to the park district for use in extending the paved surface of the Marion Tallgrass Trail. This grant, coupled with $167,000 in local matching funds, will fund the construction of approximately three miles of paved trail.
The grant will be awarded if the State of Ohio Controlling Board approves ODNR’s proposed allocation of grant funding, with a decision likely coming in January 2014. Following approval, trail design and bidding will occur in late winter and early spring, and the park district hopes to begin trail construction in mid-2014. The grant also may be used for removal of old railroad ties and a paver walkway at the trailhead.
The 12.4 mile trail corridor, stretching from 2093 Holland Road West to the Hardin County Line, is already owned by the county park district. About half of this distance has been cleared by volunteers, many from the Marion Rotary Club and the Friends of Prairie Parks. In the spring of 2012 Elgin High School students cleaned much of the corridor, filling a dumpster with trash.
In 2010 a 0.25 mile demonstration section was paved and two old railroad bridges were converted for pedestrian/bicycle use.
The 2014 construction project will begin at the first bridge and will cross Herr Road and State Route 203, ending in the area of Hickory Grove Lake Campground. The exact distance paved will depend on construction bids and the price of asphalt.
The park district plans to apply for a second $500,000 grant in 2014. If awarded, this grant would allow construction of approximately 3 more miles of paved trail in 2015, hopefully taking the pavement to near Agosta-Meeker Road.
The $167,000 local match for the project comes entirely from donations. The Hot Tamale Bicycle Tour each June serves as a fundraiser for the Tallgrass Trail, and the 2013 Leadership Marion class conducted a 5K run that raised significant funding for the trail.
“The incredible generosity of our community makes this gem possible.” said park board member Dan Sheridan.”We’d especially like to thank our pacesetters, the Marion Community Foundation and the Marion Rotary Club, for leading the way. Nucor Steel, the Heart of Ohio Tailwinds Bicycle Club, and the Don Alspach Memorial Fund at the Marion Community Foundation are also among our leading contributors. Hundreds of donors, many of them anonymous, have come together to raise this local match.”
The district is also awaiting word about a $60,000 Clean Ohio Green Space grant to purchase an 83 acre parcel along the Tallgrass Trail containing a 53 acre lake. This grant would also include enough funding for a small parking lot and a walking trail around the lake. The Marion Community Foundation is providing much of the local match for this grant.
“If you would like to get a sense for what the trail will be like, I’d encourage you to visit the Kokosing Gap Trail (Mt Vernon to Danville), the Richland B & O Trail (Mansfield to Butler), and the trail along the reservoir in Upper Sandusky” said Sheridan. “You will see people walking on trail near their homes, young mothers pushing strollers, people jogging, cyclists enjoying nature, and birdwatchers with binoculars. We are excited to partner with ODNR to bring this opportunity to the people of Marion County.”
Tax-deductible donations are still needed. These donations will serve as local matching funds for future phases of the trail and help to maintain the existing trail. Any donation is welcome, and each dollar donated allows the park district to qualify for three more dollars in grant funding. (See sidebar for information about how to donate).
With Marion County ranked 87th of Ohio’s 88 counties in the “Physical Environment” category that includes access to recreational facilities, park district officials believe that it is important to provide a safe place for residents to exercise while enjoying a peaceful natural setting.
Marion’s ” EnVISIONing the 21st Century” community plan identifies completion of the Marion Tallgrass Trail as a priority for the region. The trail is expected to provide an economic boost for the region. Similar trails have been shown to draw tourists, increase property values, and make the community more attractive to employers.
More information about the trail is available on the county park district web site, at www.marioncountyparks.info, or by searching for Marion Tallgrass Trail on Facebook.
If you’d like to help, you can:
- Make a tax-deductable donation to the Prairie Parks Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3 foundation set up to receive tax-deductible donations to help the Marion County Parks. Donations can be designated for specific uses. For more information, contact Dan Sheridan at (740)-389-4146, or mail your donation to:
Prairie Parks Foundation
PO Box 651
Marion, OH, 43301
or visit www.marioncountyparks.info to make an online donation.
- Donate to one of the funds at the Marion Community Foundation that are designated to help Marion County Parks, or set up a new fund.
Marion Community Foundation
504 South State Street
Marion OH, 43302
Ph: 740-387-9704
Fax: 740-375-0665
- Purchase an engraved paver ($100 and $200) that will be installed in the walkway at the trailhead building. Order forms are available at www.marioncountyparks.info
- Join a trail clearing work group or volunteer in other ways: Leave a message on the park district answering machine at 740-223-4161, and a volunteer will get back to you.
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