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MECCA pitched water trail for canal |
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Thursday, 22 May 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — Trustees of the Miami and Erie Canal Corridor Association Wednesday learned of plans for a destination water trail Ohio Department of Natural Resource officials say they hope will run through St. Marys.
The water trail would be used by recreational water craft such as kayaking.
ODNR Division of Water Program Manager Hung Thai proposed a water trail that would begin at the bulkhead of Grand Lake St. Marys located at the intersection of Ohio 364, Feeder Road and Greenville Road. From the bulkhead, the trail would follow the canal feeder to the St. Marys Aqueduct, then north of High Street near the towpath trail head. It would continue to the 40 Acre Pond and finally to Lock 14 located north of St. Marys.
Each of the locations could be possible access sites to the canal or have ramps for entering and leaving the destination water trail.
“I think it’s going to provide additional recreational activity and benefit the canal with additional funding,” Thai said. “There’s a lot of opportunity there.”
Thai said he shared the application for the destination water trail with St. Marys city officials as well as the Heritage Trail Park District before submitting it to the ODNR Division of Watercraft on April 1.
“This is just a proposal to see if it is something the city would agree to,” he said. “It’s up to the community or the organization to apply for that status.”
Another benefit of the water trail includes linking the Miami and Erie Canal to other programs that might assist in funding improvements to the canal.
Thai said currently, there are only three other Destination Water Trails in Ohio. He also noted completion of such a project could take anywhere from six months to two years.
Trustees approved entering into an affiliate program with the North Country Trail Association, a not-for-profit organization comprised of volunteers and partners that oversees 4,600 miles of hiking trail from North Dakota to New York. Part of the North Country Trail runs through the Miami and Erie Canal Corridor and the Buckeye Trail.
“It’s a relationship (and) partnership that both recognize each other,” MECCA Executive Director Neal Brady said.
The affiliation would enable both organizations to share their logos on Web sites.
National Trail Days will be held June 7 at the dedication of the Sidney Feeder Canal Walkway, a three-quarters of a mile asphalt trail. Brady said the hope is to connect with the Lockington and Piqua area. The Sidney Feeder Canal Walkway connects with a residential area on the south side of Sidney.
“This trail enhancement is part of the Sidney Feeder Canal,” Brady said. “It’s a real asset to the community, a beautiful trail.”
The next MECCA meeting will be held at 7 p.m. July 16 at the Heritage Center in New Bremen.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 May 2008 )
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