The Mount Vernon City Council and the Knox County Park District are joining forces to apply for a state grant that would enable them to repave the Kokosing Gap Trail. The asphalt of the trail is set to turn 20 years old in 2024.

During its meeting last month, the City Council first reviewed a resolution supporting an application for a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation Alternative Program (ODOT TAP). According to this resolution, several engineers have concurred that it is time to repave the trail.

The ODOT's TAP funds various types of projects, as stated on its official website. These include on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects aimed at improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, environmental mitigation, recreational trail program projects, and safe routes to school projects. The TAP application process opened on Dec. 1, 2023, with applications due by Jan. 31.

According to the resolution attached to the Mount Vernon City Council's Dec. 11 meeting agenda, the Knox County Commissioners initially appointed a volunteer board of 15 members in 1989 to oversee the Kokosing Gap Trail. This board and volunteers have used donations to implement park improvements such as a playground, parking lots, benches, water fountains, and restrooms. Donations have also facilitated the addition of a restored steam locomotive and caboose along the trail.

The first four miles of paved trail were inaugurated on Oct. 5, 1991. As per information available on the Knox County Park District website, The Village of Danville maintains a picnic shelter and drinking water fountain at the Trail Drive parking lot located at the eastern terminus of the trail. Parking areas are also accessible in Mount Vernon, Gambier, Howard and Danville.