We hope experiencing the Miami Valley Trails is a part of your Summer plans. The MV Trails offer great opportunities for day trips, overnighters, weekend getaways, and enough miles for a whole week of outdoor exploring. Read on to find out about the latest news along many of the Trails. In this edition we’ll be covering:
An Ohio Department of Transportation project on US Route 22 began on June 7, 2021 and includes a closure of the Little Miami Scenic Trail. The project is expected to last fifty days. Fingers crossed for good weather to allow the project to finish on time!
The bridge rehabilitation project on US 22 will close that highway bridge over the Little Miami River (and over the trail) and is anticipated to result in increased traffic on Old 3C Highway. To manage traffic flows, ODOT has instituted several turning movement and lane restrictions along Old 3C Highway and has also closed the Little Miami Scenic Trail where it crosses Old 3C.
The lane and turning restrictions make impossible any practical on-road detour for this closure. Therefore, no detour is posted or recommended for this LMST closure. We are encouraged that ODOT has agreed to take a fresh look at traffic impacts from the US 22 project along Old 3C Highway a couple of weeks into the project. With real-world data, there may be cause to re-evaluate the need for a complete closure of the trail. If there is any change based on that review, that information will be posted on the Miami Valley Trails website.
This and all other closures and detours are posted on our Detours and Closures page on the Miami Valley Trails website. Check ahead to see if your planned trip along the trails may include a detour.
On May 15, 2021 the Village of West Liberty dedicated “Sherman Ricketts Memorial Park” at the location of the Simon Kenton Trail access point along Bradley Street in the southwest corner of town. The park is named for a town marshal who died in the line of duty in the 1960’s.
With auto and bike parking available along Sidney Road, Sherman Ricketts Memorial Park also includes wayfinding signage about the Miami Valley Trails and wayfinding to guide trail users to reach the downtown businesses and amenities of West Liberty. A portable restroom is also available. Future plans include adding drinking water, picnic shelter and benches, and a bike fix-it station. A big thank you and congratulations to the Village of West Liberty for building a better connection between the village and the Miami Valley Trails. Make sure you check it out on your next trip along the Simon Kenton Trail.
To get to Sherman Ricketts Memorial Park from the Simon Kenton Trail, exit the trail north of the park at Runkle Street. Exit to the west side of the trail and head south on Rt. 193 to Rt. 245. Use the Rt. 245 underpass to pass under the Trail and then take the first right onto Sidney Road. The Park will be on your left. See the photo for a map of this route.
Now through August 31, explore the towns and nature along the Great Miami River Trail for fun and the chance to win prizes courtesy of the Great Miami Riverway. The Riverway App (available for iPhone and Android) has everything you need to play Summer Challenge 2021.
Playing is as simple as 1-2-3.
The free Summer Challenge has dozens of activities perfect for the adventurer, the art lover, the aviation enthusiast, the foodie, the beer connoisseur, the paddler, and everyone else in between. The challenge categories are:
With weekly prize drawings, you have reason to get out and explore all summer long. Complete details and rules are available from the Riverway website. Good luck and have fun!
On May 7 and May 14, Bike Miami Valley and the City of Kettering jointly hosted the 2021 Cycling Summit as a virtual conference, followed by a self-guided tour of bike infrastructure in Kettering.
The virtual conference day on May 7 featured a keynote address from Charles T. Brown from Rutgers University providing an impactful discussion of how issues of racial justice and inequity are reflected in walking and biking in America. Learn more about the many aspects of Charles T. Brown’s work from the Equitable Cities website.
You can watch Mr. Brown’s Cycling Summit keynote address from the Bike Miami Valley YouTube Channel.
The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission provided an update on implementation of the Regional Bikeways Plan and upcoming projects along the Miami Valley Trails. You can also view this presentation from Bike Miami Valley’s YouTube Channel, and download the “handout” from here.
The May 14th bike tour day highlighted the many bike amenities and infrastructure throughout the City of Kettering. The Iron Horse Trail and the Dayton-Kettering Connector both run through Kettering. In addition, those taking the tour saw some of the bike stations, park paths, sidepaths, bike lanes and signed routes that weave through Kettering.
The tour can be self-guided and the suggested route can be found on the website of the Cycle Kettering Chapter of Bike Miami Valley.
Thanks for reading, and Happy Trails!
