By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Wood County Park District Board was asked Tuesday to shift gears to add more bicycling options in the county.
With May as National Bike Month, former park board member Frank McLaughlin returned to the park district to push for more bike trails. He talked about the high use of the Slippery Elm Trail between Bowling Green and North Baltimore.
“I suspect it’s one of the most frequently used parks in the county,” he said. On the weekends, the trail is “like a freeway,” with bicyclists, walkers, runners and people pushing strollers.
But if a bicyclist wanted to head the other direction out of Bowling Green, there are no safe options.
“For anyone who wants to ride a bike north of Bowling Green – good luck,” McLaughlin said. “Riding a bike on a two-lane road in the country, it’s rough.”
For years, bicyclists in much of northern Ohio have benefitted from the North Coast Inland Trail – a paved bike trail from Elyria to Elmore. But there it stops.
The nine miles between Elmore and Millbury have not been completed, nor have the 10 miles in Wood County, from Millbury to Perrysburg.
In Lucas County, the trail starts up again and hooks up to the Wabash Cannonball Trail and heads west out of Toledo.
McLaughlin said he is disappointed that “the lost link between Cleveland and Wauseon” is Wood County.
Wood County Park District Director Neil Munger reminded that the miles between Millbury and Elmore also remain incomplete. Munger said the park district is waiting for the leg of the trail to reach Wood County from the east.
McLaughlin asked if there are any plans to pursue grants for the missing link of the bike trail.
“I know stuff like this is not cheap,” he said.
The region has worked together on the bike trails in Lucas County, with the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments teaming up with Toledo, Lucas County, the metroparks, Wood County, and the park district.
The biggest expense to link up with the trail in Toledo is the need for a bridge over the Maumee River – which is estimated to cost $4 million. “That’s the big barrier there,” Munger said.
“I’m convinced down the road it will happen,” Munger said.
But McLaughlin would like the park district to pursue extension of the bike trail – not just wait for it to happen.
“I’d appreciate if this could be a consideration for the board,” he said. “It’s nearly inconceivable to me that the missing length is in Wood County.”
Also at the park district meeting, the board approved the low bid of $257,700 for renovation of one of the houses at Sawyer Quarry, to transform it into an interpretive center.
The board learned that plans to work with a contractor on a pond project at Reuthinger Preserve did not work as hoped since the contractor did not secure a construction job that required dirt.
“We’re hoping down the road, this will happen,” Munger said.
The board approved changes to the park police policy manual, involving use of force, use of Tasers, and use of body cameras by police.
In other business, the board heard that the annual native plants sale by the Friends of the Wood County Parks was a great success.
The board also authorized the distribution of local park grants to communities throughout Wood County. Those recipients are:
- Bowling Green: $19,640 to replace Bellard and Perkins shelter houses in Carter Park with one larger shelter that will be ADA compliant.
- Custar: $2,538 for tree and shrub planting.
- Cygnet: $4,346 for replacement of bleachers.
- Luckey: $3,915 for playground resurfacing.
- North Baltimore: $12,394 to replace basketball goals.
- Perrysburg: $10,463 for replacement of playground equipment.
- Perrysburg Township: $7,702 for playground resurfacing, replacement of swingset chains, and picnic table.
- Portage Township: $3,252 for concession stand equipment (commercial refrigerator and popcorn popper.)
- Rossford: $11,103 to resurface pickleball courts.
- Tontogany: $4,245 for disc golf course.
- Walbridge: $9,674 to replace fencing.
- Wayne: $7,522 for playground equipment (ADA swing and merry-go-round.)
- West Millgrove: $3,205 for park benches and funnel ball.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the park district board went into executive session to discuss real estate issues. No action was taken after the board reconvened.
