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Parks and Trails president steps down after 10 years
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - January 26, 2010)
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Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Mike Michael (left), new president of the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails, and outgoing president Wayne Roberts hold up a decorative bike rack that will become part of a larger bike rack that spells out “London.” Welding students at Tolles Career and Technical Center in Plain City are helping with the project. |
It started with a meeting in a London man’s living room. A decade later, Madison County has 16.5 miles of paved walking and biking paths and is part of the cross-state Ohio To Erie Trail.
The London man is Wayne Roberts, who on Jan. 20 stepped down as president of the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails, the all-volunteer group he started in 1999.
“I first learned about the Ohio To Erie Trail in a newspaper article. Jim Campbell from Springfield’s Parks and Trails gave a talk about the trail at a women’s club meeting in London,” Roberts said. “From there, I started inquiring around the county to see if anyone was involved with a group to assist with the trail coming through Madison County.”
When he didn’t find such a group, he started his own. Since that time, the resulting Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails (FMCPT) has worked in tandem with the Madison County commissioners, who make up the county’s park district board, and grant writer Julia Cumming of the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District.
FMCPT was there in the beginning when the commissioners struggled with right-of-way issues along the trail.
“Maybe with us being there, it gave the park district enough encouragement to go on, that it was the right thing to do,” Roberts said.
Over the years, Roberts and FMCPT have provided much more than moral support for construction of the trail, which runs from South Charleston to London and London to Wilson Road just shy of the Franklin County line. They’ve held fund-raisers, lobbied for state capital improvement funds, and helped with grant applications. They’ve raised awareness by making presentations and forging collaborations with other groups. They’ve also donated lots of sweat equity.
It’s through that labor that Roberts said he has gained the most from the whole experience.
“The guys who have been there dedicated for so many years, we were out there physically working together—clearing brush, hauling out tons and tons of trash,” Roberts said. “Doing that, you talk to each other and learn about each other, about what’s important, about each other’s families.
“There was so much more to it than asphalt and right-of-way. It’s people coming to know each other and respect each other.”
Roberts said he is proud of what Madison County and FMCPT has accomplished.
“We want (the trail) to be a wonderful park asset to the community. I think a lot of people agree that it has become that,” he said.
Madison County Commissioner David Dhume is one of those people.
“Without the assistance and volunteering of the Friends group, our trail system wouldn’t be the quality it is now,” Dhume said. “Wayne’s leadership played a big part in achieving that quality. His approach fits in with the whole idea of working together to accomplish things not only in the county but in our lives.
“I’ve always been impressed with Wayne’s eagerness to help in any situation. He is an outstanding individual.”
While Roberts has abdicated his position as FMCPT president, he now holds a new title, that of executive director, which his fellow board members created especially for him. He will assist the new president, Mike Michael, and remain on the board.
“Wayne is a dynamic leader. I have very big shoes to fill just because of his personality and his love for the trail system through Madison County,” said Michael, who was one of the guys who met in Roberts’ living room a decade ago.
“Wayne is still going to be out actively supporting the cause, and we decided he needed a title to go with it,” said Michael of Roberts’ executive director designation. “He needed someone to take over the day-to-day duties. I look forward to stepping into that role, and I know I have Wayne, who is a very good mentor, to lean on.”
With the transition, Roberts has more time to spend with his wife, Karen.
“She has been very patient over the last 10 years. We hope to sneak away with our camper for a few weeks from time to time,” said Roberts.
In addition to Michael, FMCPT’s new officers for 2010 are: Alan Knowles, vice president; Bryant Riley, secretary; and Gene Pass, treasurer. Knowles, Rodger Lynch and Paul Workman were reelected as directors. New directors are Dustin Dickerson and Jerry Miller.
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FMCPT annual meeting: What's on tap for 2010?
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Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Trail sentinels, volunteers who patrol Madison County’s bike path, put in over 624 hours in 2009. Madison County Park Commissioner David Dhume (back row, center) recognized their efforts at the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails annual meeting on Jan. 20: (front row, from left) Wayne Roberts, John Allison, Julia Cumming, Gene Pass: (back row) Jim Price, Dhume, Mike Michael and Bob Rea. Not pictured are Ray and Brenda Gonzalez, Keith and Kathy Church, and Michelle Wisecup. |
In other business at FMCPT’s annual meeting on Jan. 20, the group applauded its trail sentinels who put in a collective 624 hours in 2009 patrolling the bike path in Madison County. The two sentinels with the most time on the trail were Bob Rea (197. 5 hours over the course of 142 days) and Gene Pass (185.8 hours in 92 days).
Sentinels clear the path of debris, help trail users fix flat tires, report trail misuse (such as four-wheelers) to the Sheriff’s Office, organize clean-ups, and tend to bluebird boxes along the trail. All are trained in First Aid and CPR. All are volunteers.
David Dhume, a Madison County Park District commissioner, reported that at least one sentinel was on the path 229 of the 365 days. He also noted that Sundays were the most popular day for path users. Friday was the least popular.
2010 events
The following are just some of the events FMCPT has planned for the year.
• Pancake and Sausage Breakfast—This all-you-can-eat breakfast is set for 7 to 11 a.m. Feb. 6 at the Madison County Senior Citizens Center, 280 W. High St., London. The meal is $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Buy tickets at the door or call Gene Pass at (740) 506-0521 or Wayne Roberts at (614) 205-6754.
• Chamber Expo—FMCPT will display modern and antique bikes, as well as host hands-on bike-related demonstrations, at the Madison County Chamber of Commerce’s Community Expo in May.
• Full Moon Bike Rides—This year’s rides are set for May 26, June 25, July 24, Aug. 27, Sept. 23 and Oct. 23. All are free and start at the Prairie Grass Trail trailhead behind the Madison County Senior Center. The 20-mile round trip to South Charleston departs at 8 p.m. The 10-mile round trip to Neil Road (Florence Switch) departs at 8:15 p.m. Registration is not required.
• Family Bike Day—This replaces FMCPT’s annual auction and will take place on Aug. 26 at London Baptist Church, which sits along the Roberts-Pass portion of the trail. Possible activities include a bike rodeo and demonstrations of safe bike riding techniques and simple bike repairs.
2010 projects
FMCPT continually looks for ways to enhance the bike path in Madison County. The project at the top of the to-do list is creation of a trailhead on Center Street, which is slated to be done this summer.
The group also has enlisted welding students at Tolles Career and Technical Center in Plain City to create a bike rack out of pipe that spells “London.” FMCPT has purchased two bicycle-shaped bike racks to place on either end of Tolles’ project. The whole set-up will be installed at the trailhead behind the senior center.
New information kiosks are in the works for the two trailheads—the one behind the senior center and the other on Center Street near Maple Street. In cooperation with the Madison County Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, a large map featuring the city’s amenities is being developed and will be posted on the kiosks. The idea is to inform out-of-town path users of the whereabouts of area restaurants, banks and ATMs, the library, museum, and the like.
The group will continue planning for long-term projects, such as a better route through London’s business district and trail connectors to Madison Lake State Park and the Choctaw Lake/Summerford area.
To become a member of FMCPT, volunteer to be a trail sentinel, or find out more about the organization, go to www.fmcpt.com, send e-mail to FMCPT@columbus.rr.com, call Mike Michael at (614) 578-1040 or call Wayne Roberts at (740) 852-0077. The next regular meeting is 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Madison County Senior Center, 280 W. High St., London.
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