MOUNT VERNON — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has awarded a grant to the Knox County Commissioners on behalf of the Heart of Ohio Trail. Over 60 counties submitted an application, but only eight were chosen to receive the state money, which comes from the Clean Ohio Fund. Knox was one of only two counties to receive the maximum award of $150,000 toward the $220,000 cost of improvements to two existing steel girder bridges east of Thayer Road. The county is required to provide at least 20 percent of the cost in matching funds.
“We want to help Ohioans maximize their enjoyment in the outdoors, and we can do that by funding important trail projects,” said ODNR Director Sean Logan. “These projects will create and maintain safe, accessible recreation areas that citizens value.”
Knox County Commissioner Allen Stockberger expressed pleasure at the news about the grant.
“It says a lot for the project,” Stockberger said, referring to both the award and to the announcement that Logan will make the presentation to Knox County in person at the head of the Kokosing Gap Trail in Mount Vernon on Thursday, Oct. 22.
While the necessary 20 percent local matching funding was in place for Knox County to be eligible for this grant, Stockberger said future continuance grants will depend on the upcoming park district levy.
“Our available general funds are shrinking,” Stockberger said, due to the sluggish economy causing lower revenues in the county. Without the ability to match funds, Knox County won’t be able to get such grants as this. This grant was written for the commissioners by the Knox County Park District.
Park district director Kim Marshall said the county has greatly benefited from the Clean Ohio Fund, earning $800,000 in support money over the years from the fund, which is up for renewal in November as State Issue 2. The fund provides money for bike trails, green space initiatives and agricultural land preservation initiatives, all of which have figured prominently in Knox County in recent years.
According to Stockberger, the work on these two structures will complete the bridge rehabilitations needed between Mount Vernon and Centerburg on the Heart of Ohio Trail. Future work, including paving and improving the trail’s crossing over or under U.S. 36/Ohio 3, remains to be done.
“Passage of the park levy will allow continuance of such projects,” Stockberger said.
