OPAL Trails Presentation

Art Siegesmund, OPAL TrailsFor Liberty Twp TrusteesMay 18, 2015

OPAL’s goal is to help make Liberty Township a safer and more enjoyable environment for

walking, running, biking and other trail-related recreation.

Open House

• 2/26/15 at Liberty Township Hall

• Over 100 attended

• Launched community input survey

Survey

• 2/26/15 - 3/17/15

• 268 completed

• 176 email addresses collected from individuals wanting to be updated about OPAL progress

Survey Results: Top 6 Priorities

1. Liberty Road Trail2. Home Road Trail3. Rutherford Road Trail 4. Scioto River Trail 5. Sawmill Parkway Trail North6. Liberty Park North/South connector

Details of Top Priorities

1. Liberty Road Trail - Complete missing segments in trail gaps along Liberty. Approximately 1.4 miles to extend to Home Road.

2. Home Road Trail - Proposed 4.2 mile east west connector. Connect to Orange Twp trail system to the east and to Concord Twp. park to the west. Corridor to connect schools, trails and parks.

3. Rutherford Trail - Proposed 1.5 mile route to connect residential areas to Sawmill Pkwy on the east & Scioto River Trail on the west. Powell potentially to continue connection to existing trails.

4. Scioto River Trail - Proposed 3.3 mile trail along City of Columbus property bordering the Scioto River west of S.R. 257. Trail to provide connections to Dublin, Columbus Zoo, Powell Road and Home Road.

5. Sawmill Parkway Trail North - Proposed 5 mile trail to be constructed in conjunction with the Sawmill Pkwy extension. Begins in front of Olentangy Liberty HS and will include missing piece up to Hyatts Road. 

6. Park Trail Connector - Connect South Liberty Park to North Liberty Park.

OPAL Objective:Bicycle Friendly Community by 2020

First step towards this goal…

Wheelie Fun Bike Shop received SILVER level Bike Friendly Business honors from League of American Bicyclists

Bicycle Friendly Communities

• 242 BFCs in 47 states

• Local Bronze Level Communities: Columbus, Dublin & Westerville

• Elite status for our community

• We are on our way!

OPAL Recommendations

1. Seek funding for priority trails2. Initiate trail work in 20153. Enforce Complete Streets Policy

• For new developments• For road projects

4. Address railroad crossings by adopting resolution (details to follow)

5. Work toward becoming a Bike Friendly Community

Thanks to Our Supporters

• MORPC• Liberty Twp staff• Liberty Twp Trustees• Del. Co. Engineer’s Office• Del. Co. Preservation Parks• Columbus Metro Parks• OPAL Committee Members• Liberty/Powell YMCA• Wheelie Fun Bike Shop

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Happy Trails!