(By Nov. 22, 2016)
Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
An extra layer of tender loving care could be in store for the east half of Madison County’s bike path.
On Nov. 21, the Madison County commissioners gave Julia Cumming, county park board advisor, the go-ahead to apply for a Recreational Trail Program grant to sealcoat the path’s six miles from Maple Street to Wilson Road.
Administered through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the grant is available every two years. The deadline to apply for the next round is this coming February.
Wayne Roberts, executive director of the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails (FMCPT), said the trail needs to be sealcoated every five years or so. The last time the east portion of the trail was done, the work was less than adequate, he said.
Should the county receive the grant, Roberts suggested that they hire someone to oversee the project, like they did with the recent sealcoating of the path’s six miles to the west.
“We were quite pleased with the way he controlled the quality,” he said. The commissioners agreed.
Other trail maintenance on the to-do list includes removal of overgrown honeysuckle and brush. Volunteers from FMCPT handle much of the work, but some of it is too difficult to complete manually. FMCPT asked Madison County Engineer Bryan Dhume if his crews could complete the work when they have time. Dhume said on Nov. 21 that the trail work is still on his list. Tasks include spraying the honeysuckle and using a boom mower to cut the brush.
FMCPT, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Madison County Senior Center in London. Tony Collins, director of Columbus Parks and Recreation, is the guest speaker. For details about FMCPT, go to www.fmcpt.com.
