6/2008 - In the years since I started this website, more and more local communities, towns, townships and other public incorporations have come to realize that trails and walkways offer their citizens a myriad of benefits that promote healthier lifestyles, a better quality of life, safer access to schools and businesses and a reduction in automobile traffic with its attendant noise and pollution. Some communities have been working on their local systems for some time and have extensive networks such as in Dublin or Westerville. Some are just getting underway as in my own community of Orange Township. In either case, I think this is a trend which deserves our support.

LOCAL TRAILS -

Local community trails have many purposes: they can serve as feeder systems into the larger riparian trail networks and overall bikeway system expanding the users ability to access parks, and other recreational opportunities; to commute. or simply to travel distances without an automobile;  they provide an easy, safer and less polluting method for traveling to local destinations such as schools, nearby parks, local stores and business districts; and, of course, they create an opportunity for a healthier lifestyle by bringing the ability to engage in cycling, walking, running etc. almost to our doorsteps.

Some communities have been constructing trail and path systems for several years and have built extensive networks, others are just beginning the process. Some systems have miles of dedicated asphalt trails, others involve designated bike lanes, some use widened concrete walkways, and most are a combination of all these. Generally, except within parks and parklands, paths tend to cross roadways--usually having crosswalks, sometimes flashers and, where signalized, cross/do no cross signs. Sometimes the community itself builds the system out of recreational funds or road construction monies, sometimes the cost of construction is offset, in part, by developers who build public paths as part of a housing development or as part of a larger road project funded, perhaps by state and federal funds. Rarely, from what I can see, does the whole local system simply happen--more often than not, bits and pieces are built over time and, at some point, the community gets to a synergy point where the links begin to fall into place.

The detailed documenting of all the local systems is beyond the scope of this website. This page was created to call out some of the larger, more complete local trail systems both for informational purpose and in the hope of encouraging other communities to begin or to continue developing their own. 

If you know of trails in communities not listed that you feel are of note, feel free to email me at njp@jnybny.com.

WESTERVILLE

	Westerville Website (City of Westerville Site: Click on the link to bring up a pdf file which shows all the various trails and maps or click on one of the thumbnails below for a reproduction.) The Westerville map can be accessed at the site or downloaded as a pdf file by clicking the map image on the left. For the Westerville trail site go here: http://www.ci.westerville.oh.us/Portals/0/2008%20Bikeway%20Map.pdf				The thumbnail at left shows the Westerville Bikeway. This section of the Westerville system is a link in the Ohio - to - Erie trail system.
					Various paths and lanes in Westerville: Cleveland Ave, Schrock Rd (bike lane); West Main St and Cleveland Ave with access to Sharon Woods.

DUBLIN

	Dublin Bike Paths (City of Dublin Site: Click on the link to go to the main bike path page. Click on the top link to the left for a pdf map of the entire system or click on the thumbnail below for a rendered version) There are also suggested scenic routes as well. Some established routes with maps are available at the Columbus Running Company website here: http://www.columbusrunning.com/arearesourcesmaps.htm
				Various Dublin scenes: Post Rd, Emerald Parkway and the all-important crossing button.

GAHANNA

The map of the Gahanna Parks and Trails. Click on the thumbnail to bring the map up in a separate page. (The repro quality is not the best due to the original file size. Also, I had to crop the park information portion. For the full PDF file or more information, the recreation page on the Gahanna city home page is located at: http://www.gahanna.gov/departments/parks/

LANCASTER

 GROVE CITY

NEW ALBANY

OTHER COMMUNITIES  (Information taken from Columbus Dispatch trail article.)

Canal Winchester

The city has paths from Waterloo Street almost to Rt. 33 and along Dietz Drive from Washington Street to Gender Road. It features a spur along Thrush Drive north to Groveport Road. A state grant will provide for a third path from downtown along Groveport Road to Rager Road.

Groveport

The village has an unpaved path about 1 mile long from Blacklick Park to Rager Road. There are plans to connect with Three Creeks Metro Park.

Hilliard

All major roads are intended to have bike paths. The intention is for all east-west and north-south thoroughfares to have some sort of connection. The plan is to link neighborhoods with schools, the library, shops and parks. Officials also want to move the Rails for Trails starting point from the Makoy Center to Old Hilliard.

Pickerington

The 8- or 10-foot path to be installed with the Diley Road widening will be the city's first dedicated bike path outside of a park. The goal is to link the Diley Road path to the Pickerington Park Ponds path, then to the Columbus system.

Powell

The village offers about 15 miles of paths. Officials intend to connect those paths to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Highbanks Metro Park and the main pathway along the Olentangy River.

Reynoldsburg

Reynoldsburg has about 2.25 miles that connect three parks -- Kennedy and Huber parks as well as Blacklick Metro Park. Some of this trail is documented here on the Blacklick Woods Metropark page.

Upper Arlington

The suburb is focusing on looping its paths, so residents can travel in laps. The city has 7.5 miles of multiuse paths in five parks. It also has 4.5 miles of bike lanes along city roads and connects with Columbus' system at Lane Road.

Worthington

Riders can get to all city parks on either a path or residential street, said parks Director Lynda Chambers. Its system connects with Columbus on the Olentangy River Road trail. In 2009, it plans to link Snouffer Park with Linworth Park.

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06/30/2008