Margarita Madness At The Purple People Bridge : May 17th

Great Parks' New Proposed Trail System Would Link Hamilton County's Western Parks and Communities

The public's invited to share their input on the new trail system through an online survey or at an in-person open house July 13.

Jun 27, 2023 at 12:34 pm

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Photo: facebook.com/GreatParksHC

Miami Whitewater Forest

Great Parks is planning big things for its western parks, and it’s inviting the public to give their input.

Hamilton County’s park system is planning the development of the West Region Blueway & Trail System, a proposed series of blueways, or water trails, and shared-use trails along the Great Miami and Whitewater rivers that would connect parks and communities from the Buter-Hamilton county line to the Ohio River.

“The West Region Blueway & Trail System is about connections,” Sean Creighton, landscape architect and project manager for Great Parks, said in a press release. “Our goal for the project is to enhance our blueway trails and establish a new shared-use trail to better connect people with the outstanding natural spaces of western Hamilton County, nearby communities and local points of interest.”

Blueways are networks of connected waterways with managed access points, clear signage and recreational amenities for canoeists, kayakers and other paddlers to enjoy. Great Parks says part of the initial stage of development is to identify strategies to strengthen and expand western Hamilton County’s blueway system, as well as figure out four or five locations to implement canoe and kayak access points along the Great Miami and Whitewater rivers.

Other goals for the initial development stage include developing plans for a shared-use trail along the Great Miami corridor, as well as expanding its nature education programming and paddling, water safety and other outdoor recreational classes.

When it’s finished, the West Region Blueway & Trail System will encompass four parks – Miami Whitewater Forest, Campbell Lakes, Mitchell Memorial Forest and Shawnee Lookout – and the communities in between.

Great Parks Opens Interactive Music Garden with Giant Instruments in Woodlawn: The park features a treble clef-shaped path with different instrument stations set up along it, as well as plants and flowers with music-themed names.

Share your input

The project will expand beyond Great Parks, so it says it will be working closely with local communities and jurisdictions, stakeholders and interest groups to develop plans. But Great Parks is also asking for the public’s input on what connections and features the community wants included in the trail system.

In-person and open-house events have been scheduled to collect that input. From now through Aug. 7, you can attend a virtual open house and fill out a survey here. You can also attend an in-person open house at Whitewater Crossing Christian Church (5771 OH-128, Whitewater Township) on Thursday, July 13 from 4-7 p.m.

More info: mygreatparks.com

Slideshow

28 Hikes in Greater Cincinnati That'll Make You Feel One With Nature

Mt. Airy Forest5083 Colerain Ave., Mt. AiryForest trails zigzag through the thick — and sometimes hilly — Mt. Airy woods with trails ranging from 0.7 miles to 4 miles. Mt. Airy is also home to Everybody’s Treehouse, Ohio’s only wheelchair-accessible public treehouse, as well as a beautiful arboretum, mountain bike trail and a dog park.

Fernbank Park50 Thornton Ave., Sayler ParkThis peaceful park offers a 1.2-mile paved walking loop that offers gorgeous riverfront views and shaded benches perfect for a break to rest or people-watch. Fernbank also has the 1-mile Sycamore Trail that takes you through the woods. It’s also just a short walk away from 13 Below, a microbrewery that makes delicious beers and hard seltzers (we recommended the orange cream one on a hot summer day). In the warmer months, Cabana on the River is also open, offering guests beachy foods, refreshing margaritas and amazing views of the Ohio River so you can relax and refuel.

Sharon Woods11450 Lebanon Road, SharonvilleThere’s no need to drive too far if you want to hike to a waterfall in Ohio. Great Parks’ Sharon Woods in Sharonville is home to several along its Gorge Trail. This moderate-level, out-and-back trail stretches about 0.7 miles one way. You start the hike at Sharon Lake and follow the creek, where you’ll spot several small waterfalls. As you take in their beauty, you’ll notice the alternating layers of shale and limestone rock in the gorge. These rocks are filled with fossils that date back to the Ordovician period – about 450 million years ago. The park also boasts a 2.6-mile paved, multipurpose trail around Sharon Lake and a 1-mile fitness trail.

Ohio River Trail (Downtown Cincinnati)Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park: 1135 Riverside Drive, East End; Smale Riverfront Park: 166 W. Mehring Way, DowntownFor an easygoing urban hike, you can’t beat the couple-mile stretch of the Ohio River Trail between Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park in the East End and Smale Riverfront Park downtown. Start your journey at either end and meander along the river, enjoying the views of the Roebling Bridge and Northern Kentucky. On the way, you’ll also pass through Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, which offers plenty of relaxing spots to rest. Or, you can go off-trail and onto the Purple People Bridge, which will take you over the river to Newport on the Levee where you can refuel with a drink or snack from Bridgeview Box Park.

Ault Park5090 Observatory Circle, Mt. LookoutAult Park is nestled within a quiet nook of Mount Lookout. Here, the suburban rush slows to a lull. From early morning until late afternoon, the sprawling landscape is full of people traversing its paved loops and gravel trails. If the park were smaller than its boastful 224 acres, it may feel crowded.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site3380 Beaver Road, UnionIf you're up for a short drive, Big Bone Lick State Park in Union has a collection of easy and moderate trails that pass through the historic site's woodlands, grasslands, savanna and salt-sulfur springs. Named after the Ice Age megafauna that once occupied the area and its saltwater streams, the park is still home to a collection of giant mammals: bison. The 10 to 15 on view are a link to the Ice Age and an attempt to reestablish a herd of the endangered animals at the park.

Click to View 28 slides

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...