Trustee priority is bike path to parks
West Chester's Wong urges seeking grants
BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
WEST CHESTER TWP. - Plans for a $1 million bike path through the township to the
Voice of America Park at Cox and Tylersville roads accelerated this week when
Trustee Lee Wong pledged to build at least part of it during his term in office.
He also announced a public brainstorming session at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday so
residents can discuss the project's details.
It would cost about $1 million to build a paved, 10-foot-wide bike and walking
path connecting Mason with West Chester and Liberty townships.
The route would run from Ohio 747 and Port Union Road east through Beckett
Park, through Keehner Park and into Mason.
Wong's goal: doing the project without putting a tax levy on the ballot.
"I would like to make this a grass-roots effort for the good of the community,"
Wong said. "I see all the sidewalks in the subdivisions that go nowhere. The
citizens of West Chester deserve a world-class bike path."
Wong credits his election in November partly to biking through nearly every
neighborhood to meet residents.
He began calling about a month ago for more bike paths to connect Greater
Cincinnati's northern suburbs.
The latest proposal would be part of a larger venture called the Miami 2 Miami
regional bikeway, a proposed 84-mile trail system connecting the Great Miami
River Path with the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
Ideas for funding the bike path include seeking federal and state grants and
donations from developers, according to Wong.
West Chester Trustee George Lang agrees a bike path would be nice, but he
questions the cost.
Recent cuts in state money for local governments have West Chester officials
wondering how they'll pay for road maintenance and fire service next year.
"We do not have funds for this project," Lang said.
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