Celebration held for opening of Coppel Extension of Paint Creek Recreational Trail
CHILLICOTHE — The Ross County Park District recently celebrated the grand opening of the Coppel Extension of Paint Creek Recreational Trail.
This extension project has been in the works since 2020 when the Parks Department started applying for grants and trying to obtain the land needed. Once that was done they still had to work on cleaning the trash from the path and getting it leveled and paved.
While the project took a great deal of work Coordinator Ted Hagarman said it was all worth it for the around half-mile extension. He said the extension will not only increase recreation but also increase connectivity in the community as people in the area can now safely walk or bike to some stores and destinations without having to be on the side of the road. This connectivity also helps promote alternative transportation methods.
The extension helps connect the Don Coppel Atheltic Complex with the corner of US 50 and Veteran's Parkway.
Ross County Commissioners Dwight Garrett and James Lowe were at the ribbon curring celebration for the extension. Garrett said he regularly walks parts of the Paint Creek Trail Recreational Trail and that the extension is "wonderful" for Ross County.
The extension can be seen and walked on at the Don Coppel Athletic Complex on Star Drive in Chillicothe. The Paint Creek Trail Recreational Trail is over 30 miles long and connects Chillicothe with Washington Court House.
Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Local recreational train extension holds ribbon cutting
