MOUNT VERNON – Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Knox County Park District will celebrate the Ohio to Erie Trail in Knox County on Saturday, June 25.
“This project has been a long time coming,” said Knox County Park District Director Lori Totman. “Knox County makes up 35 miles of the scenic 326-mile Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET), linking the Ohio River to Lake Erie, primarily on rail trails and canal paths. The OTET is also part of the Great American Rail-Trail, the 3,700-mile trail spanning from Washington state to Washington D.C. To have the final corridor of our trails paved means so much to our community and our guests. This offers trail users the ability to instantly enjoy and connect with Knox County, and all the amenities it has to offer along the trail.”
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Clean Ohio Trails Fund grant funded the completion of the last remaining section, now linking Delaware, Licking and Knox counties. To mark this occasion, the Park District worked to plan a ribbon-cutting, and in conjunction with other organizations, planned an afternoon of fun for trail users. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the Newell Recreational Preserve (5866 N. County Line Road, Centerburg) to recognize the completed trail extension.
Knox Area Transit will offer rides from Mount Vernon to Centerburg. Bikers can board the shuttle at the CA&C Depot in Mount Vernon and be dropped off at Memorial Park in Centerburg. Rides will also be from Centerburg to Mount Vernon and Mount Vernon to Gambier. The service will be offered at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.
Additional activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Midway Welcome Station in Centerburg (115 North Hartford Ave.) and the CA&C Depot in Mount Vernon (501 S. Main St.). Spend a day out on the trail and enjoy kids bicycle safety demonstrations, guided rides, food trucks, music, giveaways and more. For more event information, go to the TrailAPALOOZA Facebook event page or visit visitknoxohio.org/events.
To learn more about the Knox CVB, follow its Facebook and Instagram pages @visitknoxohio, and follow the Knox County Park District Facebook and Instagram pages @explore_knoxcountyparkdistrict or visit them at knoxcountyparks.org.
