COMMENT:

This section is not devoted to a section of trail but, rather, to a collection of linked recreational paths and walkways that add up to an extension of the Alum Creek Trail as far north as Polaris Parkway/Maxtown Road at the intersection of Westerville Rd. (US 3) and to the trail connector at Northgate Pkwy which connects to the Genoa Trail, at SR 3. The Genoa runs north to Plumb Rd and will eventually be the northern connector to the Ohio to Erie Trail.

For more information on the Westerville City Trail System go here: Community Resources and for the Genoa trail go here: The Genoa Trail

Unlike the other sections, this one is detailed from south to north.

DESCRIPTION

From the trailhead on the south side of West Main St, go west (left) to Collegeview Rd. Cross West Main (signalized) and continue west on the north side to the entrance to Heritage Park. Turn north, right and follow the trail (parallel to the road) into the park. Past Evadel Farm, the trail turns and crosses the park road and passes with another road to Cleveland Ave and out of the park.

Take the higher (second) right turn north. (The nearer turn just underpasses the river) Follow the walkway north (straight as an arrow right up Cleveland Ave.) to Polaris Parkway,(rebuilt in recent years for multiple use--wide.) north, crossing the Westerville Recreation Center entrance and County Line Rd (both signalized). At Polaris Parkway, the asphalt trail resumes. Head east. The trail crosses Africa Rd and Maxtown Rd (both signalized.) On the east side of Maxtown, cross to the north side of the road at McCorkle Blvd and continue on the walkway to Northgate Way. The asphalt trail goes north on the west side of the road. It crosses Northgate near SR 3 and the Genoa Trail begins. See that section for the continuation.

Additionally, after leaving Heritage Park. the trail forks and passes under Cleveland and into the Westerville Sports Complex--a broad open area with a large triangular loop of about 1.8 miles with several intersecting crossings for making up many loops of different sizes. At the northwest corner of the loop there is a spur which dead ends after passing under County Line Rd. This will eventually connect to the asphalt spur on Polaris. When this happens, the route will likely go through the Complex rather than up the walkway.

IMPRESSIONS

A surprisingly simple and easy way to get from the Alum Creek Trail to the Genoa. A combination of several elements. The actual routing of the Ohio-to-Erie will exit the Alum Creek Trail at Schrock Rd, follow that road's bike lanes to the new Westerville Bikeway extension and use that to reach Maxtown Rd and Northgate Way.

AERIAL MAPS

.

The thumbnails to the left are two aerial maps that detail the route from the north trail head of the Alum Creek Trail on W Main St in Westerville through Heritage Park and up Cleveland to Polaris/Maxtown with access, via Northgate to the Genoa Trail. These are FULL SIZE versions of the maps below. The left side map is higher resolution photography with a 2800 foot eye height. The right side is lower resolution, with 4600 eye height.

MAP 1 - W MAIN ST TO COUNTY-LINE RD

MAP 2 - COUNTY LINE RD TO NORTHGATE WAY

PHOTOS

	Looking back (east) along W Main Street toward the trail-head.
	Looking back (east) from the entry to Heritage Park. The arrow shows the distance from the trail head. You can use either side walkway.
	The view across W Main to Heritage Park
	The entry to Heritage Park
	You pass by the Everal Barn and Homestead
	After a short distance, you come to this fork. You cross the road and continue.
	A closer view of the crossing
	The trail approaching Cleveland Ave
	You take the far turn onto a bridge.
	The bridge over the Alum Creek. Cleveland Ave to the left.
	The trail switches back under the roadway and into the Sports Complex. You can continue straight as well as the walkway on this side of Cleveland Ave runs straight (and I mean straight) north to Polaris Parkway.
	A view of the clearance under the bridge.
	Into the Sports Complex. The trail branches and forms a loop on the perimeter of the park
	A view of the west (river) side trail
						1. There is an unfinished extension under the County Line Rd bridge. 2. It will eventually follow the river to this point south of Polaris Parkway and connect to this existing short section leading to Cleveland Ave. (Or possibly continue under the bridge north along the Creek.)
	The trail looping across the north end of the park
	A spur leads to the intersection of Cleveland and County Line. From here (the opposite side) there is a walkway to Polaris Parkway. Until the connection above it made this is the only way to get to Polaris Parkway--Maxtown Rd.
	A closer view of the intersection from the south west corner.
	The view looking north from the south east side of the intersection of County Line Rd and Cleveland Ave.
	Same spot looking south toward the bridge and underpass. Note the wide walkways.
	Farther north on Cleveland Ave approaching Polaris Parkway.
	The southeast corner as seen from across Polaris Parkway. The trail turns east and goes from concrete to asphalt.
	A view from the corner looking east towards N State St (SR 3) and Maxtown Rd.
	Typical trail in this section.
	Approaching N State St
	The approach to Westerville Rd (SR 3).
	Once across Westerville Rd, Polaris Parkway turns into Maxtown Rd. The path continues along the south side of the road of Maxtown as far as Spring Rd. (Tussic St north of Maxtown). The walkway continues south on Spring St (west side) and south of County Line Rd intersects a dedicated recreation trail that goes east to Sunbury Rd and Hoover Reservoir and connects to the Sunbury bikeway just south of County-Line Rd. From there, you can travel the Sunbury bikeway to Innis Woods Metro park (detailed here: Big Walnut: Hoover Reservoir Area), For more information go here Community Resources.  (Thanks to David Roseman for the information and clarification.)
	The trail intersects the Westerville Bikeway which runs south into the heart of the city.
	Farther along. Maxtown Rd.
	Northgate Pkway. Note the trail section on the left (west) side of the road. There is no signalized crossing here. The trail from here north is considered to be the Genoa Trail
	On Northgate. The end of this short segment will eventually connect to the Genoa Trail and the Ohio to Erie Trail. For more information on how to access the Ohio To Erie Trail north from here go here: The Ohio To Erie Trail

TOP OF THE PAGE

06/02/2008