If you drive along North Park Avenue you may notice bulldozers and backhoes moving dirt around. This is the initial construction phase for the next link in Wyoming’s Hike/Bike Trail that will connect the current trail, which runs from the intersection of North Park and North avenues to the Recreation Center, with Oak Park.
Work got underway this spring and it is expected to be completed early this fall when the trail will be opened to foot traffic. The path is part of an unbroken trail system from Wyoming to Glenwood Gardens, a recreation area that is part of the Great Parks system of Hamilton County. The trail is proposed to extend all the way to Winton Woods.
Earlier this year, a house on Oak Avenue was removed for access. Grading and site preparation are now underway in order to make the trail compliant with rules for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that establish limitations on the degree of slope as the trail follows the creek and climbs the hill below Oak Park to reach the level of Oak Avenue.
Starting near the existing hike/bike trail, the new trail will follow the West Fork of the Mill Creek behind the baseball field on North Park Avenue. It will then cross the area formerly occupied by the Wyoming Community Gardens and ascend a small hill to run along Oak Avenue, entering Oak Park via the existing driveway/bridge to the park.
The trail system was first discussed two decades ago during the creation of the 1997 Master Plan. The City formally adopted the trail plan in 2002 and sought grants for construction. The existing leg of the trail was completed in 2009 largely through the use of grant funds. Funding for the current project is being supplied through a nearly $304,000 Clean Ohio Trail Fund (COTF) grant, plus a local matching contribution of $101,250.
The Wyoming City trails are part of a larger, regional effort to create a trail system that will eventually allow pedestrians and cyclists to access 175 miles of interconnected pathways that will encompass nearly all of Hamilton County and tie into regional trails such as the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
Walkability is one of the most highly sought-after amenities in a community, according to research by American Trails, an online resource about trails. Wyoming’s trails are part of an effort to increase pedestrian access to desirable recreation outlets and allow residents to enjoy the outdoors in a pleasant, safe environment.
