Bicyclists and walkers who would like to reach Three Creeks Metro Park without having to dodge cars and trucks are hoping a proposed bike path becomes a reality.
But they’ll have to wait a little longer to find out as Groveport Village Council postponed, until Dec. 17, a vote on authorizing the creation of an approximately one mile paved bicycle path that would connect the village to the larger Metro Parks/Franklin County Greenways bicycle path system at Three Creeks Metro Park.
Village Administrator Jon Crusey stated the postponement, taken at council’s Nov. 13 meeting, was necessary because village officials are in the process of negotiating with a property owner regarding a potential route for the path. He added that time is also needed to obtain "an accurate estimate of the cost" of building the bicycle path.
Resident Jon Conway appeared at the council meeting to express support for the proposed bicycle path. He stated he and his family use the Three Creeks bike trail often, but having to ride along narrow Old Hamilton Road to reach the park is treacherous. He said the proposed bike path would make things safer for both bicyclists and pedestrians.
"All summer long we rode along (Old Hamilton Road) to the park and saw lots of kids who walked along that road," said Conway. "There’s no berm there and when you ride (a bicycle) you can barely get out of the way of the cars. You just hope they don’t hit you."
He said the proposed paved bike path to Three Creeks would provide a safe route for walkers, people with strollers, roller bladers, and bicyclists to Three Creeks.
Conway also told council he would like to see the village look into paving the existing natural path that extends from Blacklick Park to Rager Road. He said the trail is hard to negotiate with roots sticking up in places, thick grass, muddy spots, and rough gravel patches. He said paving that path would make it more accessible to everyone in the community.
Councilman Ed Rarey originally proposed the creation of the bicycle path on Sept. 10 and has suggested the construction of the path could be done by the village’s public works department.
"We are going to do this right," said Rarey. "We (village representatives) are all excited about his path becoming a reality."
Other Groveport news
•In a letter dated Nov. 5, the Indiana & Ohio Railway Company indicated it would make repairs to three railroad crossings – at Bixby, Hendron, and Hamilton roads – by Nov. 30.
•Groveport Police officials reported that, in October, there were 26 fights/assaults/disturbances at Groveport Madison High School. This is an increase over October 2006 when there were 15 fights/assaults/disturbances at the school. Year to date for 2007, there have been 55 fights/assaults/disturbances at the high school.
•Groveport Reserve Police Sergeant Ernie Bell, who has been a reserve officer for the village since 1979, was sworn in as a full time patrol officer on Nov. 13.
•Council heard the second readings of ordinances to annex two properties: 25.7 and 29.7 acre sites on the south side of Rohr Road west of State Route 317; and also an ordinance to amend the zoning at the sites from suburban office to planned industrial park. Plans call for the construction of a 567,000 square foot warehouse and a 675,000 square foot warehouse on the sites.
