Tue, May 13 2008
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Published May 08, 2008 06:49 pm - The commissioners of the Ashtabula Township Park Commission have not forgotten Indian Trails Park. River of Great Potential Master plan for Indian Trails Park expands recreation on river By CARL E. FEATHER - Lifestyle Editor - cfeather@starbeacon.com Star Beacon Last of a four-part series
The commissioners of the Ashtabula Township Park Commission have not forgotten Indian Trails Park. In fact, with the construction of a new covered bridge at the southern end of the park, Commissioner Mike Wayman is more excited about the park’s potential than he has ever been before. “It’s going to bring a real big interest in Indian Trails,” says Wayman. “People are going to be able to go down and enjoy not only the new covered bridge, but all the river has to offer, as well.” The 1,200-foot covered bridge will span the river at State Road. Wayman says interest in the bridge, the longest in the United States and number 17 for Ashtabula County, is running high. Wayman sees it having a big impact on tourism once it opens late this summer. “I’m confident the covered bridge is going to bring many, many tourists not only to Ashtabula Township but Ashtabula County,” says Wayman. Indian Trails Park is 3.9-mile stretch of the Ashtabula River as it winds from State Road to East 24th Street. This year marks the 100th birthday of the park, which came about as a result of a state law passed in 1904 that authorized townships to establish free public parks. The new park commission quickly went to work in Ashtabula Township and purchased the first tract of land along the Ashtabula River Nov. 7, 1908. A century later, the commission owns more than 400 acres of this valley on both sides of the river. Wayman says he has had visitors from the National Park Service and state agencies tour the park, and “they are just amazed at what the public owns along the Ashtabula River.” In 1935 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established a camp at what is today Cederquist Park. CCC workers built public access stairs to the Gulf at both the south end of Main Avenue and near east entrance to the Spring Street Bridge. They also cut trails through the valley to encourage horseback riding and hiking there. Without sufficient funds to monitor and maintain the remote area, the park became a dumping ground. Wayman calls it a “jewel in the rough” whose potential was recognized by the commission and community in 2002. That’s the year the Indian Trails Park Bike Path Master Plan was completed with the assistance of Smolen Engineering. The plan, which is available online (lakeshoreparkashtabula.org/indiantrails.htm) envisions development of the park in six phases. First is construction of a 120-by-14-foot pedestrian bridge in the valley below the new covered bridge. Wayman says the old highway bridge had to be removed to accommodate construction, and a foot bridge is needed at the lower level to connect the parking lot to the new paved trail. The 2,980 feet of trail follow the river toward the West 58th Street entrance. It and the parking lot and restrooms opposite the river were completed two years ago with a grant from the Clean Ohio Fund. Wayman says commissioners have applied for a grant to fund the pedestrian bridge. They also have applied for a grant to continue the trail to the Plymouth Ridge Road entrance to the park, about 1,700 feet. “We’d be ecstatic if both were awarded,” he says. 
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