West Region Blueway & Trail System
West Region Blueway & Trail System
Thank you for participating in our Virtual Open House and Survey
for the West Region Blueway & Trail System!
Our goal for this open house is to share information about the development of this trail system and to give you the opportunity to participate in the planning process. Your input is important and will be used to help shape system features and amenities.
This site is organized as a self-guided tour through a series of tabs (located below this section) that highlight key elements of the West Region Blueway & Trail System. Survey questions are included at the bottom of each tab. Please use these questions to share your thoughts with us. The questions will remain open for response through August 7, 2023. Don’t worry if you have to leave this site during the middle of your visit - your responses will be stored and can be finished and updated anytime between now and August 7th.
In addition to this virtual experience, we're also hosting an in-person open house; details are below. There, you will be able to meet with members of the project team and participate in some interactive exercises. The information shared at the in-person session will be the same as what you will see on the tabs below.
IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE
July 13, 2023 | 4 pm - 7 pm
Whitewater Crossing Christian Church
5771 OH-128 | Cleves, OH 45002
Please scroll down to begin. To see larger versions of the graphics, simply click on the image. If you need any language translations, click on the TRANSLATE button located in the image at the top of this page. If you need any other assistance to review these materials and/or provide your thoughts, please contact Sean Creighton at (513) 245-7455 or screighton@greatparks.org.
Great Parks is leading the development of a master plan for the West Region Blueway & Trail System – a new initiative to bring people closer to nature by expanding opportunities for water- and land-based adventure in western Hamilton County.
Our vision for this new trail system includes:
Strengthening and expanding Great Parks’ blueway in western Hamilton County.
A blueway, or water trail, is a network of connected waterways that feature managed access points, clear signage and recreational amenities for canoeists, kayakers and other paddlers to enjoy. Access to the blueway in western Hamilton County is currently available in a few locations on the Great Miami River and Whitewater River.
Establishing four to five new canoe/kayak launch sites along the blueway trail.
The new blueway launch sites will be located on the Great Miami River and Whitewater River and will be managed by Great Parks.
Establishing a new shared-use trail along the Great Miami River corridor.
The shared-use trail will travel from the Butler/Hamilton county line to the Ohio River, near Great Parks' Shawnee Lookout.
Shared-use trails can be used for walking, running, biking and other forms of non-motorized recreation.
Other opportunities being explored as part of the West Region Blueway & Trail System’s master plan development include:
- Finding potential locations for new outdoor nature education space
- Expanding Great Parks’ paddling course offerings
- Identifying existing points of interest and locations for additional corridor amenities
- Promoting the history and culture of the corridors
- Identifying possible habitat restoration opportunities
LOCATION
The planned West Region Blueway & Trail System will span western Hamilton County from north to south and encompass two rivers, four Great Parks – Miami Whitewater Forest, Mitchell Memorial Forest, Campbell Lakes and Shawnee Lookout – and many spaces in between. Trails on land and in the water will wind between vibrant communities and spectacular wilderness areas.
Map of the West Region Blueway & Trail System study area. Click map to enlarge.
Where do you live? Drop a point on the map to indicate the general area where you live.
Use the +/- buttons on the left side of the map to zoom in to your desired location(s). Click on the blue Add Point button in the upper right hand corner to drop a point on the map (a + sign will appear when you click on Add Point; move the + to your desired location and click to place your point).