Grants merely are being sought from the Ohio Public Works Commission’s Clean Ohio Fund and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Wile said.
“This is very, very early in the process,” Wile said. “These resolutions are just moving with the expectation of pursuing grants. This does not mean that there’s design work done, there are budgets done, or anything like that.”
The Public Works grant would be used to purchase a former CSX rail line on the city’s west side for use as the bike path. It might also help with an environmental study of the corridor and a structural analysis of two bridges over Two Mile Creek. If the city won the grant, it would have to provide a $1 match for every $3 of the grant.
The ODNR grant also would help with purchasing the land, and would require a similar match to the Public Works grant.
During a standing-room-only public meeting Monday at the Lane Library about the proposed path that would connect with other bike trails through the city, including the Great Miami River Recreation Bike Trail, many made positive comments about the concept, but others worried about safety and crime the project could bring.
The 2.96-mile-long CSX rail line used to serve the Champion/SMART Paper plant, which closed in 2012.
Meanwhile, Council Member Kathleen Klink and others said they were delighted by the large turnout at the public hearing.
“I thought it was a wonderful opportunity for our citizens to ask questions, share their concerns, and have some answers,” Klink said. “I’m optimistic and looking forward to other meetings, so (we) can continue to build momentum, and then we’ll see what the results bring us.”
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