New Bridges to Smo-o-o-o-th |
During the last month, three crumbling trail bridges have been reconstructed to improve their foundation, stability, and drainage, as well as a smoother trail surface. The new bridges are near Beech Road (mile marker 46), Foster (mile marker 38) and Oregonia (photo above); the article below relates the story behind the northernmost bridge.
There’s more good news about the new bridges. First, they are wider now—14 feet rather than the original 10 feet that was just the width of the paved trail. Second, the three-bridge construction project finished below budget, and enough money was left over to repave a section of trail! Early this week, approximately 300 feet of trail just north of the Foster intersection will be transformed from one of the bumpiest stretches to a new smooth surface. Thank you, ODNR!
Photo: Tom McCray
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A Troubled Bridge Over Trail Waters |
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by Tom McCray
As a volunteer for FLMSP, I have been dealing with the bridge at mile marker 18.3, about 1.5 miles north of Oregonia, for at least four years. Other volunteers and I have moved a lot of rocks and logs from the front of the bridge and shoveled a lot of mud off the pavement after flooding events. During heavy rains, this bridge has a tendency to gather debris which restricts flow under the bridge, causing storm water to back up and flood over the trail. In 2017, before any work, the upstream side of the bridge was slammed with large rocks, gravel, and woody debris. There were even small trees and bushes growing in the basin.
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Left: bridge before replacement
Above: debris under old bridge, blocking flow
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In recent years ODNR has gone in two or three times with an excavator and hauled out dump-truck loads of debris, allowing increased flow under the bridge. However, it was discovered in the past year that the flood waters had taken their toll on the wooden substructure of the bridge... More story and photos
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Safe Trails: : Catch More Flies With Honey
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by Erick Wikum
I’ve experimented with a number of ways to address discourteous and unsafe behaviors on the Little Miami Trail and have come to the conclusion that the old adage, “you can catch more flies with honey” rings true. Constructive criticism shared with fellow trail users, no matter how well meaning or politely stated is often met with indifference at best and anger akin to road rage at worst. On the other hand, being polite and positive can change the world, one interaction at a time. In particular, individually and collectively, we can help shape behaviors of our fellow trail users by doing the following two things.
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Set a good example: Mimicry is a powerful force that leads people in any environment to adopt behaviors modeled after those demonstrated by others. We can influence our fellow trail users to be courteous and safe simply by demonstrating desirable behaviors. Calling out “passing on your left,” wearing a helmet, stopping and waiting for clear passage at road crossings, walking dogs on leashes 6 feet in length or less, slowing down around others, obeying the 20mph speed limit, not hogging the trail and moving off of the trail when stopped are examples of these behaviors. It may seem that people are more apt to copy bad than good behaviors, but our good example does make a difference.
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Reinforce positive behaviors: Psychologists know that when a subject (be it a person, dog, etc.) repeatedly receives a positive stimulus after displaying a behavior, then that behavior is likely to be repeated, a process known as operative conditioning. How can we reward positive behaviors we observe on the trail? The answer is surprisingly simple—say thank you. This simple but powerful stimulus says “I appreciate your behavior” and makes it more likely that a fellow user will continue to say “passing on your left,” to slow down around others, etc.
We live in a world where it often seems that bad examples are more contagious than good ones. And yet, positivity does make a difference. I hereby deputize you in the fight to establish safe and courteous norms for the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Set a good example and reinforce positive behaviors; thank you!
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The trail is now closed at the Old 3-C Highway intersection due to construction on the Ohio 22/3 bridge. The trail is open both north and south of the intersection, but crossing the road is not permitted. The closure is anticipated to be in effect through late July. More information, including road detours, here.
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Helmet Giveaway: Round Two! |
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Friends of the Little Miami State Park, in partnership with the Children’s Hospital’s Comprehensive Children's Injury Center, is hosting another free bike helmet giveaway, this time for ages 3 to adult, in Morrow:
Saturday, July 10
10 am – 12 noon
Shelter next to train depot in Morrow
Sizes and quantities are limited.
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Helmet Giveaway: Round One |
Fifty-nine children and teens are safer after our Loveland helmet giveaway on May 25! Cincinnati’s Channel 12 news was there to cover the event. See their story and photos here.
We have more helmets to give away--see information above.
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New Kiosk Enhances Park in Spring Valley |
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The Little Miami State Park has a new information kiosk in Spring Valley presenting information on the community and the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
For several years, The Friends of the Little Miami State Park and Spring Valley Association of Community and Township Services (Spring Valley ACTS) have teamed up to provide trail users at the northern end of the park a portable restroom facility at Founders Park in the middle of the Village of Spring Valley. This year we worked together to improve the park by adding a six-display-case information kiosk in the park. This kiosk matches the information kiosks at key state park entry points. In the Spring Valley kiosk, three of the displays will be used by FLMSP to present information about the trail. The other three will be used by Spring Valley ACTS to present information about the Spring Valley community and the Spring Valley ACTS history and charitable activities.
Founder’s Park, on the southwest corner of Main Street and the Little Miami Scenic Trail, is operated by Spring Valley ACTS for the community to honor Spring Valley community leaders and boosters. The park provides gardens, benches and a comfortable stop for users of the trail.
Funding for the kiosk’s materials came from a generous donation by Appletree Pet Clinic in Deer Park, Ohio. The enclosure was built by FLMSP volunteers Dick Feldmann, Mary Ann Wendeln, Mike Hill, Tom McCray, and Don Schweitzer with help on community interaction from George McGowan. FLMSP thanks Spring Valley ACTS for their continuing support to the trail-using community and the citizens of Spring Valley.
Below: Kiosk under construction by FLMSP volunteers
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by Phillip Obermiller
If you’ve found the trail a bit crowded lately, perhaps it’s because of some national publicity. The Adventure and Travel Section of the Wall Street Journal recently recommended three rail-to-trail opportunities for readers seeking a getaway: California’s 25-mile Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail, Colorado’s 42-mile Rio Grande trail, and Ohio’s 78-mile Little Miami Scenic Trail.
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The Little Miami Trail article mentions “the many ice cream shops along the way” but neglects to point out the growing number of microbreweries alongside the trail. In addition to the usual chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry cones there’s Cartridge Brewing in Maineville, Narrow Path Brewing Company in Loveland, the Miamiville Trailyard, Little Miami Brewing Company in Milford, and Fifty West Brewing Company in Mariemont.
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FLMSP Essential Links: Click below to learn more!
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