What:                    

Great Parks will join with Metro to celebrate completion of Phase 1 of the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods trail, which incorporates a new Metro bus stop for expanded access.

Where:

The Metro bus stop at the southwest corner of the intersection of Springfield Pike and Glendale Milford Road, near the entrance of Glenwood Gardens. Media parking is available at the Cotswold Visitor Center at Glenwood Gardens.

When:                   

10-11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2. Great Parks CEO Todd Palmeter and Metro CEO Andy Aiello are expected to arrive on a bus at 10 a.m.

(Please note this event is intended for media only because of the very limited space at the site, which is near a busy roadway.)

Visuals:                

Palmeter and Aiello will arrive on a Metro bus to demonstrate the transportation options made possible by this section of the trail, and the partnership between the two organizations toward utilizing public transit for expanded access to Great Parks. Leaders from Great Parks and Metro will then cut the ribbon for the ceremonial opening of Phase 1 of the trail.

Background:         

Although Glenwood Gardens and Winton Woods are adjacent to each other, there is no way for guests to move between the two parks without using local roads. The 3.6-mile Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail will allow users to safely connect between the two destinations, away from automobile traffic. It will also become a transportation resource for people to use to get to work, shopping, schools and other community resources. The trail will pass through Forest Park, Greenhills, Woodlawn and Springfield Township, although it will be located entirely on public land or easements.

Phase 1 of the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail links a Metro bus stop to the existing West Fork Mill Creek Greenway trail. It features a signalized crosswalk to make pedestrian and bicycle access safe and easy. Construction will start later this year on Phase 2 of the trail, which will connect the West Fork Mill Creek Greenway Trail to Winton Woods. The full alignment and more information on the trail is available at GreatParks.org/Projects.

Great Parks received $352,000 in federal Transportation Alternative funding and $123,000 in state Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds for Phase 1 of the trail. Funding for Phase 2 includes $6 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funds and $500,000 from the Clean Ohio Trail Fund.

Trail expansion and connections is a top priority the public established for Great Parks in its Comprehensive Master Plan.

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