By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Wood County Park District is hoping to repave the entire 13 miles of the Slippery Elm Trail with funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The project would be a birthday gift to the multi-use trail between Bowling Green and North Baltimore for its 30th birthday in 2025.
The board of commissioners at its November meeting on Tuesday approved a plan to apply for an Ohio Department of Transportation grant to help pay for the asphalt repaving project.
The proposal for the grant will seek $1,092,804 for the project based on Wood County Engineer John Musteric’s recommendation, who estimated resurfacing the entire trail by overlaying 1 to 1.5 inches of asphalt would cost $1,272,900.
Park District Director Christopher Smalley said the district would contribute $155,096 and Friends of the Wood County Park District would add $25,000. The $180,096 originally was committed as a local match to the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments’ Transportation Alternatives Program to pave the south seven miles of the trail.
“If the application is successful, we will commit the same match dollars to pave the entire trail,” he said.
ODOT is providing up to $26 million across Ohio for projects that make walking and biking a safe, convenient and accessible transportation option.
According to the ODOT website, funds will be awarded to develop plans or studies for pedestrian and/or bicycle projects on the state, regional, local or corridor level; collect data related to walking and biking; educate and promote walking, biking and transit as a transportation option; provide engineering, design and/or construction of pedestrian and bicycle projects; or to support pedestrian and bicycle projects of statewide significance.
The park district has maintained the trail surface since it opened in 1995, Smalley said. Each year since the late 1990s, park staff have worked hard to maintain the stretch of asphalt by sealing cracks in the pavement, which prevents water from infiltrating the pavement. “It’s time,” he said.
Troy Bateson, a Bowling Green resident who has been on the park district’s police force for 11 years, was welcomed as the new chief of the department. Former Chief Steve Thomson has moved from Ohio.
“I’m proud of the work the department has done, and we will continue to move the department forward,” he said after the meeting.
Smalley also introduced Jessie Walton, the district’s new community and communications specialist.
“Happy holidays,” said Anna Stuart, coordinator at Carter Historic Farm, as she introduced plans for Heritage Holiday, the old-fashioned holiday celebration at the farm.
The schoolhouse, farrowing house and the whole property at 18331 Carter Road will be decorated for the free event on Dec. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. Cookie decorating and crafts, such as fingerpainted ornaments, yarn dolls and wool felted ornaments will be offered for all age groups–young children through adults.
“We will be making historically accurate sugar cookies using flour from the farm that you can also take some home to make your own cookies,” she said. There will be carols on the player piano, games to play, and hot cider, hot chocolate and hot coffee will also be available.
Board Chair Rebecca Ferguson announced the district’s Base Camp Stories series that will run from December through February.
The first talk will feature Bob Rex, retired Bowling Green Junior High School science teacher, who will discuss his three-month hiking and biking trip in Australia and New Zealand. His talk will be at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2. at Way Public Library in Perrysburg.
Emma Taylor, park district program naturalist, will talk about her recent land-based Alaskan adventure for her Base Camp Story. Her presentation will be on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at Way Public Library.
Both talks will be livestreamed on the park district’s YouTube channel.
