Tri-County Triangle Trail

Newsletter

November 17, 2011

Dear Members & Friends of the Trail,

I hope you enjoyed your early Thanksgiving this year. For many of us our Thanksgiving Day was on October 17, the Grand Opening of the newly paved 6 mile section of trail connecting Ross to Fayette County, creating a contiguous trail of 32 miles. This trail project has been in the works for over 20 years and was made possible by the support of our loyal members, City and County officials, and friends of the trail who have hung in there with us.

The Tri-County Triangle Trail group provided the matching funds of $78,000.00 for the Clean Ohio grant to complete this latest addition. There was a one mile section of trail in Fayette County starting at Fairview Road that only had one coat of asphalt, so we also had the second coat applied there, bringing our total investment in the latest project to $106,000.00. We still have 2.5 miles to get the trail into the city of Washington C. H. We will need your help again to replenish our funds so that we can continue our work to develop more trail. If you haven't completed your charitable donations for 2011, consider us in your plans, or remember us in 2012. Every dollar that is donated goes solely for development and maintenance of the trail.

We have worked diligently over the past 20+ years with one thought in mind, to be able to help our local governments build a recreational trail that serves our local citizens and brings visitors to our area to boost our economy. We have done everything from holding rummage sales, having annual bicycle rides and Half Marathons to selling Bicentennial Barn Prints and "The Cavalier Takes the Lead" train station prints and our Tri-County Triangle Trail Tee Shirts. Besides the many projects we have undertaken, we have also received generous donations from our members and other friends of the trail.

Eric Oberg, Trail Development Director for the Rails to Trails Midwest Regional area, attended our dedication and was very complimentary of our accomplishments. He said that we are now the 5th or 6th longest trail in Ohio and that is saying a lot because Ohio has many trails. He uses our organization as a model when speaking to groups about successful accomplishments in trail development.

Since our last letter, we held a rummage sale and cleared $1,150.00. Our Annual Bicycle Ride in August was a success, except for a few early showers. We had 127 riders and cleared $2,705.00. Our annual bicycle ride is always held on the third Sunday in August, so mark your calendar now, so you don't forget in 2012. It is a fun ride with lots of good snacks, most importantly our selection of many homemade cookies. We probably should re-name it the "Cookie Ride".

The community ride which is referred to as the "Nite Pie Ride" was a big hit in October. There were about 80 riders who met at the Hopewell Parking Lot at 6:30 P.M. and rode to the Frankfort Eatery for a piece of pie and then turned their lights on and rode back to the parking lot in the dark. If you haven't tried this one, join us next October. There is also a regularly scheduled ride every Sunday starting at the River Bend Bicycle Shop at 1:00 P.M., for those of you who would enjoy joining a group to ride on the trail and surrounding low traffic roads.

We held our Second Annual Bicycle Rodeo at the Chillicothe High School parking lot in June. Young children were fitted with new helmets and taught to ride in a safe manner. There were awards and prizes and one lucky young man won a new bicycle that was donated by Rivers Bend Bicycle Shop.

Christmas is not far away so you might want to support the trail by buying Tri-County Triangle Trail Tee -Shirts for your family and friends. We now have a limited selection of long sleeved shirts. The Central Center Hardware in Chillicothe stocks our shirts, for your convenience. If you don't find your size or color there, you can call 775-9322 to see if I might be able to help you.

Enclosed is your annual dues statement and renewal card.  Because of the continuing, rise in the cost of postage and printing we have found it necessary to raise the annual membership dues from $10.00 to $15.00. We hope that you will choose to continue to support us in 2012.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas with your families. Weather permitting we may see some of you again this year for our New Year's Day ride.

Delbert J. Doles, V. P. and Corresponding Secretary.