AUSTINBURG TOWNSHIP- - A Global Positioning System (GPS) unit was put in operation Saturday morning on the Western Reserve Greenway Trail to map the entire 25.9 mile recreation linear park in Ashtabula County. The mapping was done by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Midwest Region representative, Ryan Phillips of Columbus.
Phillips with WRGT bike patrol volunteers, Jeff Adams and Ken Adams started about 8 a.m. in Ashtabula at the West 58th Street trail head, then made their way down slowly stopping to put data into the GPS unit. The unit resembled something like a cell phone in size with a screen to show points of interest along the trail.
Phillips said part of his job at the Columbus office is to map details of the trails in place already for public use.
"The use of old railroad lines for trail systems is coming more and more into play. We are trying to link them together in our Web site for people to easily find a trail to use within three miles of their home," he said.
Phillips said the Robert Woods Foundation works with groups planning recreation-type trails all over the country. He said there is a growing trend to design communities for healthier lifestyles.
"You are now seeing developers putting up condominiums along trails like this one," he said.
"The trails in Ohio are fairly flat and have paved surfaces like the Greenway Trail. This is a high quality trail for the public to use, 26 miles in Ashtabula and 15 in Trumbull County," Phillips said.
He praised the county Metroparks, county officials and many volunteers, who continue to maintain the scenic trail.
Jeff Adams said the Metroparks has about a dozen core bike patrol volunteers, who come out when they can on the trail. "It is very user friendly. We can always use more volunteers to help us," he said.
The GPA unit used will designate way points, staging and parking areas where users can easily get to different sections. The WRG Trail is open for use by hikers, bicycle riders, walkers with strollers, horse riders and snowmobiles in the winter months.
Another part of the WRG Trail in the planning stages is the link of the North Shore Trail, which will go from W. 52nd Street to Walnut Beach in the city. It will link up to the WRG Trail when completed.
Philips and his two bike patrol guides expected take up to six hours on the GPS mapping trek Saturday. Once the data goes into the RTC Geographic Information System (GIS) and it's Web site, trail users will be able to more easily log their routes and track mileage.
Over the next six months, Phillips and the staff at the Midwest Regional office will collect data from more than 100 trails in six states, Illinois, Indian, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin as well as Ohio's.
Local efforts link with RTC mission goals
Beginning in 1986, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has worked to promote, protect and provide assistance to local organizations all over the U.S. working to build recreation trails for the public.
A non-profit organization, RTC works with communities on a regional basis to preserve and turn unused railroad corridors into trails to promote better healthy lifestyles and protect the environment and neighborhoods. RTC in 1998 played a lead role in the passage by Congress of the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which allocated $1.8 billion for bicycle and pedestrian facilities including rail-trails.
RTC is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with regional offices in California (Western Region), Ohio (Midwest Region), Pennsylvania (Northeastern Region), and a state office in Florida. The organization has assisted communities in building nearly 13,600 miles of rail-trails; has more than 100,000 members and supporters; and is the definitive online resource for trail builders and trail advocates for technical assistance.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, RTC donations are tax deductible. (Source of information from RTC Web site at www.railtrails.org.)
Star Beacon Print Edition: 4/22/2007
