Why I Support the Ohio River Trail: Don Mills

For the 30 plus years I used biking as cross training for racquet sports. Street biking seemed a little bit too hazardous, so I started using the Little Miami Scenic Trail.

Being a long time resident of Terrace Park, I was embarrassed by the community's blockage of the continuation of the LMST through "The Park". Upon my retirement in 1999 I undertook to facilitate the extension of the LMST through "The Park".

Subsequently I became involved with the Ohio River Way and its goal to extend recreational trails 25 miles east and west of Cincinnati along the Ohio River. In order to accomplish the aforementioned goal it was first necessary to connect the LMST to downtown Cincinnati, then New Richmond, then to Lawrenceburg and finally to Maysville.

It became apparent that the proposed trail next to the Ohio River was not realistic is my lifetime and an alternate route seemed a more likely solution - the dormant Oasis railroad line. After many hours of talking and walking with various government officials The Ohio River Way became convinced that this was the best solution for the good of Cincinnati. Thus the Ohio River Trail plan we know today was born.

Please support The Ohio River Trail.

-- Don Mills

Building a path to a healthier, wealthier Cincinnati

Greenbelt trails aren’t just for fun anymore.

Research data and case studies point to greenway trail systems helping create healthier and wealthier communities. That’s a big deal for cities like greater Cincinnati seeking a competitive edge to lure new tourists, businesses and residents, especially those highly coveted young professionals.

Studies provide ample evidence that suggests completing the Ohio River Trail between downtown Cincinnati and Lunken Airport – and its eventual links to a much broader regional trail system – would be big plus for Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Make no mistake, bike/hike trails are still fun. Fun is why trails have such a magnetic quality, one that attracts people, gets them out and gets them moving. It’s one reason so many CEOs say trails and similar quality of life amenities are important considerations when selecting business locations. Livable communities make it easier to recruit and retain hard-to-find talent, something that can go right to the bottom line of a financial statement.

Show me the money

Anyone looking for information about the economic benefits of what’s called green infrastructure, especially trail systems, only need surf the internet to uncover an abundance of examples. A few worth noting include:

The state of North Carolina invested $6.7 million to widen bike lanes, build off-road trails and improve bike friendly infrastructure along its Outer Banks coastal region. The state estimates its public investment has generated an additional $60 million a year in tourism-related revenues. That’s an almost 900 percent return on initial investment – every year.

Between 1975 and 2006, the city of Minneapolis invested $86 million of public funding in its downtown scenic byways district along the Mississippi River, generating $1.5 billion private investment and 20,000 new residents.

In Denver, an $80 million public investment in greenway trails and related green space resulted in $5 billion worth of private investment.

A University of Cincinnati study in 2008 showed the average sale price of a property decreases in value by $7.05 for every foot in distance it rests from a bike trail. In other words, being closer to the Little Miami Scenic trail adds to the value of single family residential properties.

Power to the People – Ride On!

Then there are the health benefits of peddle power. Those benefits are especially important in a country fighting an obesity epidemic and grappling with a healthcare system about to collapse under the weight of its own costs. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 34 percent of Americans are obese and 32.7 percent are overweight.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control includes bike trails as a central component of its scoring system and recommendations for what denotes healthy communities and healthful urban design.

A few quick examples of medical studies on the benefits of trails and active green space include:

A 2005 study in the Journal of Health Promotion Practice showed that in Lincoln, Nebraska, every $1 spent on trails produced $3 in public health benefits. One of the primary benefits identified by the study was the reduction of health care costs associated with inactivity.

A 2008 study in the American Journal of Health Promotion on green space and trails showed an association between living in greener neighborhoods and a reduced risk of being overweight among children between the ages of 3 and 18.

Another study in the American Journal of Health Promotion published in 2005 showed an association between the amount of green space and trails in a community and the degree to which people walk or ride their bicycles for daily transportation needs. Higher amounts of park acreage, for example, led to higher activity levels for walking and cycling.

A 2006 study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reports the percentage of green space in people’s living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents. The study went on to conclude that green space and related amenities are more than a luxury and that they should be included in any community planning policy.

If you are interested in helping put Greater Cincinnati on the path to a healthier, wealthier future, please visit www.ohiorivertail.com for more information, or to contribute.

-- Nick Miller

A Trail for Your Commute

So I am riding my bike one day on Riverside Drive on the way over towards Lunken Airport from downtown. Wow! Is this road busy during commute time for drivers! Drivers, caffeine induced, trying to get to work and at times some are late. I have been one of them. I have nothing against people traveling to work, we need them! But.....it is hard to see all of the cyclists and runners, especially when the sun is just coming up over the horizon.

Wouldn’t it be nice to get off this road? Well that’s what the final 4 miles of the Ohio River Trail, so called THE FINAL LINK will do for us.

A friend showed me some pictures of the rail that the new recreational trail will eventually reside. I walked part of it after the ride, and I couldn’t believe in some sections, that I was actually near the road or near downtown. What a fantastic views between Riverside Drive (below) and Columbia Parkway (above) as you travel down the river.

So we have some work to do. First, we need money to build the trail, private funds to go along with the public funds to create this great FINAL LINK, which when done will stretch all the way from Newtown to downtown. Over 75% of the cost will come from Federal, State and local funds, with the City of Cincinnati kicking in a great grant to support the project. We have the support of our Mayor and City Council. Yeah!

Now we just need to get through this economic downturn, raise some money and soon we will be able to enjoy a first class recreational trail. And oh by the way, after it is down there are plans to link the Sawyer Point area to trails being developed in Northern Kentucky too!

So join me in being a part of THE FINAL LINK!

-- Dave Szkutak

Building A Web of Transportation and Fun

I used to be a Snob-Cyclist who was too cool for trails. I thought they were boring, straight and flat like the railroad beds that serve as their foundation. But that was before my experiment in oil-free vacations at the height of gas prices last summer.

One of my best friends lives in Cleveland and I hadn’t seen her for a while. So I packed a handlebar bag and 4 panniers (big bags that attach to racks over the front and back wheels of a bike) and headed north. I took my time, starting out early in the morning and finishing everyday by two o’clock in the afternoon. It took me 3 1/2 days to get to my destination but I got religion before the end of day one. Trails are more than a strip of pavement. Trails are a community. They are the super highways of non-motorized transport.

On the trail there’s always somebody to ask for directions when you get lost, somebody to talk to when you’re sick of your own company. The first night at my campground I got two dinner invitations from families who had come to Ohio just to ride our trail: one from Florida, the other from Illinois. Restaurants, gift shops, ice cream parlors, rest areas, campgrounds and bike shops have sprouted up all along the way. After I left the bike path for the open road just south of Columbus, I came to appreciate how much more comfortable it is to ride along in the shade without the worry of cars. It’s hot on that black top at the end of June.

My trip totaled almost 600 miles, about a third of it on trails. In the past, I’ve traveled the world and stayed in plenty of fancy hotels. But I’ve never had more fun and met more interesting people than I did pedaling to Cleveland and back. I can’t wait until trails connect neighborhoods and attractions all over our city and all over our state in one great big web of alternative transportation and recreation fun. The Ohio River Trail is for everybody. Let’s get it done.


Kathy Holwadel is Chair of Cincinnati Bike/PAC

Volunteer Opportunity: See you at the pig!

Calling all Ohio River Trail advocates and friends!

Come and visit us at the Flying Pig P&G Health Expo on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, Mary 2 at the Duke Energy Center. We will be handing out Ohio River Trail literature and spreading the word about the trail. If you would like to help out, please email Teresa at tlubic@gmail.com or leave a comment. It's going to be a great weekend for the Flying Pig and a great weekend to get the word out about the Ohio River Trail!

Ohio River Trail – The Perfect Accessory for the Object of My Affection

Usually it happens during those crisp fall mornings, when the sun-soaked tops of Cincinnati’s skyscrapers and hills start emerging from a fogged in Ohio River valley. My longtime love affair with the Queen City of the West is renewed, and after 20 years as a transplanted citizen, I remember what attracted me to this world-class beauty in the first place.

If only the object of my affection would get over its inferiority complex. I recall the day when my heart was broken – yet again – hearing an economic development expert describe Cincinnati as “a really great dog that just won’t wag its own tail.” 

So busy trying to reinvent itself all the time, and wondering what kind of city it wants to be, Cincinnati doesn’t spend enough time embracing what it already is.

Look in the mirror, my beloved, I beg of you. Instead of an extreme makeover, you just need to accessorize a bit more thoughtfully. Why not try on a beefed up transit system, or dedicate your self to enhancing outdoor recreation and green space? Tossed in with just a little imagination, much lesser places have transformed themselves into great communities with such ideas.

That’s why I support the Ohio River Trail, and other projects like it in our region. They celebrate and use what’s already here in abundance – a unique, historic community nestled amid scenic river valleys, and seasoned with interesting architecture, distinct neighborhoods, a strong arts community, and great people.

The big extreme makeover plans come, they go, and our city is still pretty much the same wonderful place. The Ohio River Trail is a simple idea with a potentially big payoff – one of those real life “build it and they will come” propositions.

The trail will connect neighborhoods, people and possibilities. It will improve our quality of life. People from here and elsewhere will be able to see our city and river valley from a whole new perspective. The trail will encourage individuals and families to get out, explore and be more active. Numerous case studies point to how greenway trails lead to healthier citizens and stimulate economic activity and private investment.

As a long time cyclist who does most of my riding on the roads, I’m often approached by people who say they would love to start bicycling, either individually or with their families. The hurdle is they’re uncomfortable riding – or at least getting started – on often-busy roadways, especially with the kids in tow.

The Ohio River Trail – and the regional trail network it hopefully will connect to one day – will encourage more people to get started by providing a safe, inviting riding environment. It will attract current residents, new residents, tourists and even businesses looking for world-class cities that offer high-quality-of-life amenities that appeal to young professionals.

When I moved here, it was because I picked Greater Cincinnati, not the other way around. I was taken by its natural beauty, old historic neighborhoods and proximity to my Hoosier roots. It’s why I support the Ohio River Trail, and would like you to as well.

 -- Nick Miller

Be the Final Link

Welcome to The Final Link, the blog of the Ohio River Trail campaign.

Our goal is simple -- build a trail from Lunken Airport to downtown Cincinnati. But, what we have to accomplish to meet our goal is no small task. We need to raise $4 million.

That's a lot of money, but together we can build it one inch at a time.

Whether you walk, bike or run, the trail will offer exceptional recreational opportunities while taking advantage of one of our area's greatest natural resources, the Ohio River. We hope you join us as we try to build the final link. And, we hope you consider giving to the campaign. Every dollar counts.

Soon, you'll be seeing posts from members of the campaign about why they support this project and what the Ohio River Trail will mean to our community. We'll update you on the progress of the fundraising campaign and any news about local, state and national efforts to build trails. We sincerely hope you join the conversation and tell us why you support the Ohio River Trail.

If you're interested in getting involved in the campaign to build the Ohio River Trail, please email us at OhioRiverTrail@gmail.com. We can't wait to hear from you.

-- Laura