By Debbie Rogers
A lot of miles have been logged on the Slippery Elm Trail over the last three decades.
It’s time to invest some serious money into its upkeep, said Wood County Park District Director Chris Smalley at the July board meeting.
Smalley asked for the board’s approval to apply for funding through the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments transportation alternative program.
The funding would go toward “rehab and repaving” of the trail.
“The Slippery Elm Trail is 28 years old and it’s getting on in years and it would be nice to spend some money to do some resurfacing,” Smalley said.
The minimum matching fund is 20%, which the board approved.
After the meeting, Smalley said that they hope to get $560,000, which would repave 7 miles of the trail.
There is a $1.5 million available in the TMACOG funding for Wood and Lucas counties, Smalley said.
“We’ll be competing against other local projects but you’ve got to be in it to win it,” Smalley said.
Paving would start in 2025 at the earliest.
Board President Tom Myers asked what their chances are of being awarded the grant money.
“I’m hopeful. The Slippery Elm Trail is a regional gem. It’s one of the oldest rails to trails around,” Smalley said.
Most trails in the area are replaced at 20-year mark.
“And we’re getting up there to the 30-year mark,” Smalley said.
After the meeting, Smalley said that park district staff routinely does maintenance on the trail. That includes trimming back brush and crack sealing.
The Slippery Elm Trail is a 13-mile asphalt trail between Bowling Green and North Baltimore.
Access points at Sand Ridge Road, Gypsy Lane Road, Portage Road, Mermill Road, Freyman Road and East Broadway (North Baltimore).
The trail, which can be used for walking, bicycling and in-line skating, opened in 1995.
In other business Thursday, the board approved the 2024 statutory budget, which is $4.5 million.
The board was presented with two options, one with normal step increases for staff and one with 3% cost-of-living increase.
The latter was requested by board member Sandy Weichman.
“We need to keep that forward motion going,” Weichman said.
She said that the budget is “very fair.”
“We’re still in a very competitive market and … and economic time in the country where things are still very competitive,” Myers said.
The board approved the budget with the 3% raises.
Also at the meeting, the board:
• Heard Assistant Park Director Andrew Kalmar report that the W.W. Knight Preserve parking lot will be paved in August. It’s a $90,000 project.
• Voted to put out for auction a 2013 former patrol Dodge Durango, with 202,000 miles on it.
• Went into an executive session to discuss real estate. No action was taken.
