Sylvania: Bike trail to quarry advances

1/29/2004

A bicycle trail in the new parkland owned by the Olander Park System designed to run to Fossil Park and the area of Centennial Quarry and Terrace has been given preliminary approval by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

A final OK depends on a state grant for 80 percent of the price tag of approximately $650,000 for the trail that would have the area of Timberstone Junior High School as its other end.

Bikeways were prominently mentioned as important to the area when Olander and residential developers announced plans for the area east of Mitchaw Road between Sylvania Avenue and Brint Road.

The area is being developed as a residential community with about 60 acres belonging to Olander.

The park board has decided that much of the land will remain in its natural state, although a sledding hill may be developed and there is the possibility of the construction of a community building, according to Gary Madryzkowski, director of the park system.

At the time the land was acquired by the park last year, Mr. Madrzykowski said an important consideration was the development of bike trails. The trails, he said, were not only for recreation, but to allow youngsters a way to ride to Timberstone without having to use their bikes on the increasingly busy streets in the area.

Mr. Madrzykowski said the park system would construct the trails and restore the area to create natural corridors.

He noted that the planned trail end at Centennial Quarry and Terrace would connect with an existing bike path to Pacesetter Park on Sylvania Metamora Road. An area south of Pacesetter is to begin development as a residential neighborhood with some commercial units near Brint Road.

When zoning was approved, the developer, Doug Wamsher, said he was aware of Olander s plans for bike paths in the area and said he hoped to be able to incorporate bikeways into his development to enhance those of Olander.

In his application to the state, Mr. Madrzykowski also noted that the Olander site is about three miles west of the King Road end of the University/Parks bicycle trail.

He noted that there have been efforts to extend the University/Parks trail west, along the northern border of the former King Road Landfill. He was optimistic that a connection eventually could be made. He said that if the application is approved, Olander has sufficient funds to pay its share and begin work on the trail.