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| Park Improvements for 2016 |
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Salt Run Bridge by Mike Egan
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Winter can be beautiful on the trail, but spring is coming! Here are highlights of improvements you'll see in 2016:
Erosion Remediation: Streambank erosion that threatens the trail will be corrected at several locations. Contracted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the projects come at a cost of over $3 million from state capital funds designated for the Little Miami State Park. The most extensive work will be at Fort Ancient, where the trail will have to be moved. Trail closures there are expected in early fall.
Re-paving: The oldest section of the trail, from Loveland south, will be repaved with funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The remainder of funds provided for our park from the state capital fund will be used to pave north from Loveland until the money runs out.
Crack-Sealing: Funded primarily by a designated grant from Interact for Health and partially with our own resources, FLMSP is contracting for filling and sealing cracks along a major portion of the trail in preparation for repaving.
Root-Cutting: last year, in FLMSP's largest volunteer effort so far, rotating crews using a rented tractor fitted with a special cutting blade severed tree roots at the edge of 40 miles of trail to prevent them from pushing up and making bumps on the trail surface. This spring, before crack filling and repaving begins, the team will apply what it's learned to be even more efficient and effective in cutting roots along the remainder of the trail.
Information Kiosks: Brand-new kiosks at Milford and at Nisbet Park in Loveland will soon be filled with helpful maps and information about local trail-friendly establishments as well as park information and photos. Kiosks farther north on the trail are also in the works. Funding for these is provided by designated memorial donations to FLMSP.
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Cincinnati Connects: Peddling Forward
by Nancy Chafin |
"A 42-mile off-road super highway for non-motorists." That's how the Cincinnati Connects coalition describes its proposal for connecting four major new multi-use trails into a city network of trails [ Read WCPO article].  To enjoy the great outdoors, I've traveled to Michigan, Indiana and Vermont. When I moved here in 1987, there seemed to be bike trails all around but none in MY backyard. Now, I can get on my bike in my own neighborhood and explore the best that OHIO has to offer. We as a city have let go of our comfortable beliefs. We are moving forward. Our Metro Buses have bike racks and while there are some limitations to use, we can board a Metro bus WITH OUR BIKE. That's HUGE!
I am still looking for my retirement home and Cincinnati is looking better. My kids live here and I can bike. Keep peddling forward gang, keep peddling forward!
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| What's This? |
 Pete Carey, Mike Weber, Carol Collett, and Gary Davis all correctly identified the trail artifact pictured in our last issue as a Journal Box Cover from an old railroad car. The journal box was stuffed with oil-soaked rags or cotton to reduce friction between the wheel axle and frame. Mike Weber says, "Better keep it lubricated or burn off an axle!" Because an overheated wheel bearing could start a fire and even burn up the whole car, the box had to inspected frequently by the "car knocker" [thanks, Carol] and was often repacked at major stops. Pete Carey says the journal boxes can be seen and opened on the caboose in Morrow.
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Friends of the Little Miami State Park is a nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation and enhancement of the Little Miami State Park. We assist the Ohio Department of Natural Resources with development planning, capital improvements, and safety concerns, as well as providing most of the maintenance of the park.
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Support Bike Safety Bills
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