Great Parks Starts Construction on Final Phase of Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail
Great Parks has started construction on the second and final phase of the 3.6-mile Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail. This new shared-use trail will become a safe and accessible connection between two of Great Parks’ most popular destinations, add an important link in the regional trail network, and open new opportunities for recreation and transportation in an urbanized area of the community. Glenwood Gardens and Winton Woods are connected by land, but until this trail opens, the only way to move between the two parks is by using the busy roads in the area.
“Building the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail is a continuation of Great Parks’ priority to increase regional trail miles as requested by the public through our master plan,” said Todd Palmeter, Great Parks CEO. “Linking these two highly visited parks aligns with our mission and vision, and moving into the final construction phase is an exciting milestone for Great Parks and all our partners on this project.”
Phase 2 of the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail will start from the existing West Fork Mill Creek Greenway Trail that passes by the entrance of Glenwood Gardens. The new trail will travel west through Glenwood Gardens, eventually connecting with the Harbor Loop Trail in Winton Woods. Trail users will be able to easily move between Woodlawn and Wyoming over to Springfield Township and Greenhills on a 12-foot wide, paved trail.
On the west side of the route, Winton Woods is Great Parks’ most visited destination, with more than 2,500 acres. The park includes Winton Lake, golf, camping, trails and the Winton Woods Farm & Equestrian Center. To the east, Glenwood Gardens offers a unique botanical experience in the gardens as well as diverse habitats along the trails and features the whimsical Highfield Discovery Garden.
Trail construction is scheduled to be completed by fall 2027.
Phase 1 of the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail opened last July and connects Glenwood Gardens and the West Fork Mill Creek Greenway Trail to a new Metro bus stop at the intersection of Springfield Pike and Glendale Milford Road.
When the full length of Phase 2 opens, it will dramatically expand possibilities for people to use the combination of trails and transit for shopping, schools, employment, and exploration of thousands of acres of natural spaces in both Glenwood Gardens and Winton Woods.
Great Parks secured more than $7 million from outside funding sources for design and construction of the trail. This includes $352,000 in federal Transportation Alternative funding and $123,000 in state Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds for phase 1 of the trail. For phase 2, Great Parks secured $6 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement funds and $500,000 from the Clean Ohio Trail Fund.
More information on the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail is available at GreatParks.org/projects.