In October 2014, Interact for Health, a local independent non-profit organization, awarded $186,000 to Groundwork Cincinnati/Mill Creek to explore ideas for a hike/bike loop around the urban core of Cincinnati.
Those funds will be used to study ways to build upon an extensive, yet disjointed inventory of existing and proposed hike/bike infrastructure. A steering committee will include representatives from the City of Cincinnati, Queen City Bike, Green Umbrella Regional Trail Alliance and Interact for Health as well as representatives and proponents of six city trails including;
• Mill Creek Greenway Trail
• Ohio River Trail West
• Wasson Way
• Little Duck Creek
• Oasis Line
• Ohio River Trail East
Technical support will come from the architecture and landscape studio, Human Nature.
“The goal of the project is to create a protected, green, interconnected trails network in Cincinnati that brings people and places together and encourages activity, such as walking, hiking, running, bicycling,” said Groundwork Cincinnati executive director Robin Corathers. “There should be a seamless transition between the trail system and the existing transportation systems, including bike lanes, cycle tracks, parking lots, Metro and Access bus stops, and other transit options.”
Over the summer of 2014, the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) worked with URS and members of the West Side Summit / Riverwest Working Group to complete preliminary drawings for the first leg of the Ohio River Trail West which stretches from the Mill Creek west to Riverside Park / Gilday Rec. The Cincinnati Urban Core Loop will look at continuing the trail east into downtown to connect with completed trail along the riverfront at the Banks and Smales Park (labeled “Ohio River Trail Riverfront Parks” on the map above). The Urban Core Loop will also explore connecting to the Mill Creek Greenway Trail, which has several miles completed in the vicinity of Northside and Camp Washington. A new park, Price Landing at the intersection of the Ohio River and Mill Creek Greenway Trail is also in the planning stages.
The Cincinnati Urban Core Loop study means great things to come for the state of trails in the city in general, as well as the progress of the Ohio River Trail West specifically. We’re excited to get started, and of course, we’ll provide updates on the facebook page and website.
Read the complete press release here.
Learn more about our projects here www.ohiorivertrailwest.com and like us on facebook here www.facebook.com/OhioRiverTrailWest