COLUMBUS, Ohio –State officials have announced plans to revamp campsites and renovate cabins at one state park while handing out millions of dollars in grants to improve and extend hiking and biking trails.
EXTRA: Where is the best fall color is this weekend?
The Department of Natural Resources says several capital projects are planned at Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking County. All 40 of the park’s cabins are expected to be renovated. Officials also want to add more full-service hook-up campsites.
Ohio State Parks received an unprecedented $88.5 million for capital improvements to strengthen the infrastructure and modernize facilities in the most recent capital budget.
The list of projects includes:
Completely renovating all 40 of the state park’s cabins
Replacing the dining lodge roof
Doing exterior renovations to the dining lodge
Renovating the outdoor pool at the dining lodge
Adding more full service hookup campsites
Installing new playground equipment in the campground area
Upgrading the restroom at the welcome center at Old Man’s Cave
Making improvements to the restroom at Ash Cave
Increasing trail signage throughout the park, including safety signage and confidence markers
Installing brand new interpretive signage for the first time at an Ohio State Park
Larger campsites at the horse camp
Trails around the state, including three in central Ohio, will see improvements thanks to millions of dollars in state and federal grants.
The ODNR also announced a slate of improvement projects at Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County:
A redesigned marina with new docks and a new system with room for larger boats
More full hookup campsites
Updating playground equipment at the beach
Renovating the beach house and restrooms
Heating the flush restrooms during the winter
New picnic tables and grills throughout the park
Improving the dog park by adding a group shelter, benches and drinking fountains for dogs
A new restroom at Howard boat ramp
New ADA paddling docks at the Howard boat ramp to improve ADA accessibility for kayakers and canoers
A new restroom and shelter house near the New Galena boat ramp
Sprucing up the Cheshire boat ramp’s ADA fishing deck and adding a shelter house
Increasing trail signage
Assessing the parking lots to seal and restripe as needed
The Hollenback boat ramp opened earlier this month, and it features a new ramp, flush toilets and improved parking, director James Zehringer said.
The ODNR announced Thursday that $6 million in state funding and $1.68 million in federal funding will go toward creating and improving recreation trails in Ohio.
That includes $500,000 toward completion of the $2.6 million Phase 2 of the Scioto Greenways Trail in Franklin County, connecting 1.5 miles of multi-use trail to regional recreational trail systems, such as the Scioto and Olentangy Trail systems; $429,170 for Preservation Parks of Delaware County earmarked for the Meredith State Trail, a 1.6-mile stretch of rural and wooded pathway connecting with the Knox County section of the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, and $379,500 to build more than 3,600 feet of trail from Hoffman Farms Trail southward across Scioto Darby Road to Roger A. Reynolds Park in Hilliard.
The state grants come from the Clean Ohio Trails Fund, and will go to community projects that complete regional trail systems, create links to statewide trails and connect urban areas with outdoor recreation areas. Twenty-five miles of new trail will be developed using the $6.1 million.
The federal funding is part of the Recreation Trails Program, and will focus on projects that create and maintain trails, improve access for those with disabilities and provide trail safety and environment education.