City Has Hopes For Complete Circuit Of Walking And Bike Trails

Zanesville City Council discussed a variety of ordinances and resolutions during the last meeting of July.

One resolution in particular supported the City’s application to the National Park Service which would allow technical assistance through the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program. The Comprehensive Plan Committee has been working on Parks and Recreation for the last several months. Public Service Director, Jay Bennett explained.

"One of the things they talked about is looking for opportunity to provide connectivity via transportation systems or trail systems." Said Bennett, "A while back the Rotary announced their Centennial Project which is looking at expanding off the parks system off the Y-Bridge along the canal up to the Sixth Street Bridge."

If awarded through the National Park Service, Council has proposed to take the next step and expand upon Rotary’s project by building a southbound trail from Putnam Landing Park. Bennet said the creation of the new trail systems would allow for endless travel and transportation possibilities.

"Bicycling into downtown, bicycling along the Rotary Project Canal, come up off the Y-bridge into Zane’s Landing Park along the other trail going north to Riverside. You could start south and go all the way to Riverside by your bicycle so it’s just another way."

Bennet said the hope one day is to have a complete circuit of walking and bike trails that go both north and south. The National Park Service does not provide money, just technical service. Applications for funding would come at a later time. The resolution passed as emergency at Monday’s meeting. Bennet said they are only in the initial planning stages, so the beginning of the new project is still a ways down the road.