Ohio Trail Connections Summit Agenda

Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Networking

Summit Welcome

Tom Bilcze – Ohio to Erie Trail Conference Chair, Brian Housh – Midwest Policy Manager, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

State of the Ohio to Erie Trail

Mike Groeber – President, Ohio to Erie Trail

The Ohio to Erie Trail is nearing completion. Traffic on the trail in increasing. A large portion of the trail is an important link in the Great American Rail -Trail. Mr. Groeber shares the latest news and a future vision for the trail.

Morning Keynote: The Power of Trail Towns, Amy Camp – Owner and Trail & Tourism Consultant, Cycle Forward

Ms. Camp helped to launch the nationally-recognized Trail Town Program® on the Great Allegheny Passage. She managed that program leading economic impact studies, the program’s marketing efforts, and on-the-ground improvement projects before starting her own consulting practice. She shares how trail communities around the U.S. benefit from connecting to their trails and how Ohio rail-trails and trail networks might see similar results.

Envisioning Trail Towns in Ohio

Amy Camp, Jody Dzuranin

Get down for some hands-on work with the trail town approach to community development. Participants are coached and guided through this interactive workshop to create a foundation and vision of how a trail town might look on an Ohio rail-trail.

Looking at Spines and Networks

Brian Housh – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Melinda Vonstein – MORPC/Central Ohio Greenways

The interconnectivity of trails and trail networks is important in building seamless transportation, recreational, and tourism networks. Participants learn the basics of spines and networks and how the Rails to Trails Conservancy is working to build a seamless trail across the United States.

Happy Trails, Happy Volunteers

Kokosing Gap Trail, Friends of Madison County, Rails to Trails of Wayne County

Engaging volunteers is key to the success of maintaining a rail-trail. A panel of trail friends group veterans shares their best practices and insights to recruit, keep and reward volunteers.

Food for thought

Tom Arbour – ODNR Trails Coordinator, Melinda Vonstein – Central Ohio Greenways Coordinator, Mid-Ohio Reginal Planning Commission

Mr. Arbour will present an overview of the Ohio Trails Plan, a vision of providing sustainable trails for all users, offering an extraordinary network of world-class recreation and transportation opportunities linking communities, people and places while stimulating economic and social vitality.

Ms. Vonstein will present the Central Ohio Greenways regional trail vision to add 500 miles of trails spanning 7 counties to its existing to the existing 230-mile network. This vision seeks to connect neighborhoods and create a truly interconnected network of trails useful for both transportation and recreation.

Mr. Foley shares how 19 southwestern Ohio communities united to develop and implement the marketing, planning, and programming of their recreational, historical, and cultural assets. Their initiative seeks to attract more visitors, support economic development, and strengthen neighborhoods.

Trail Funding: Where do the $$’s come from?

Brian Housh – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
D’Juan Hammonds – ODNR

Participants explore the opportunities available for trail funding. You will learn about federal and state funding outside of the typical grant programs like the capitol budget and alternative ODOT funds.

Your Trail’s Story on Social Media

Suzanne Matyas, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Your social media presence is the front door of your trail for many trail users. Learn the tools and techniques needed to build, grow, and maintain an engaging social media presence for your trail.

Getting Down to {Trail} Business

Collins Family Greenhouse, Ernie’s Bicycle Shops, Ohio Trail Shuttle

Statewide Business owners on the Ohio to Erie Trail share stories on how reaching out to trail visitors helped them grow their businesses.

• Campground – Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails: Primitive Campground/Shower
• Community Engagement – Heart of Ohio Trail Friends: Eagle Scout Projects
• Fundraising – Holmes County Rails to Trails Coalition: Annual Benefit Auction
• Bicycle Trail Poker Rides – Massillon Area Greenways, Inc. (MAGI)
• New Ways to Discover the Trail – Knox County Park District: Geocaching
• Trail Bike Rides for Seniors – Bike Springfield: Changing Gears