COLUMBUS, OH -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will hold regional meetings in Athens, Ohio, on June 19 to gather citizen input regarding a proposed statewide system of interconnected, recreational trails. Two individual sessions will be held for public convenience: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Athens Community Center at East State Street Park, 701 E. State St.
Recreational trails fill a variety of social, environmental, economic and transportation needs. ODNR's primary goal in formulating a comprehensive, statewide trails plan is to produce a document that will assist all developers in meeting the vision of a statewide trails system.
First steps will be to inventory all existing and planned recreational trails and to gather input on what prospective trails users want and expect from an interconnecting system. Joining in this effort are the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Parks & Recreation Association, Ohio Greenways Project, the Rails to Trails Conservancy, the National Park Service and local trail groups and agencies.
ODNR has three goals for the meetings:
- Gather information on existing or planned state, regional and community trails
- Identify criteria for trail-related financial assistance
- Identify strategic issues and recommendations for carrying out a statewide trails system
Meeting attendees are encouraged to bring copies of any trail plans or proposals (with maps) that ODNR can use in preparing a statewide trails inventory.
For Further Information Contact:
Bill Daehler, ODNR Real Estate & Land Managemen
(614) 265-6402
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860