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Public hearing held on proposed Old Canal towpath trail; grant application eyed
Summary
Village Administrator Brian Bibler presented a multi-phase plan to convert the Old Canal towpath into a walking and biking trail; residents raised safety, hunting and maintenance concerns and staff said an ODNR grant application is planned with a March submission deadline.
Baltimore Village held a public hearing on a proposed walking and biking trail along the Old Canal towpath and collected comments as staff prepares a grant application.
Village Administrator Brian Bibler outlined a multi‑phase vision to develop an approximately two-mile canal towpath into a paved trail connecting the center of town (opposite the police station) south past Bibler/Bivore Lock and Smack Park to Leonard Road. Bibler said the village has identified phase 1—roughly a mile in length— as an initial target for upcoming Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) grants and that the village would later pursue bridge connections and extensions as additional phases.
Why it matters: The project would create a local walking and bicycling connection, could tie into county active‑transportation plans and would rely on state grant funding to cover construction; residents asked about safety, hunting near private property, maintenance and long‑term upkeep.
Project details presented Staff described phase 1 as a 5-to-6-foot-wide asphalt trail roughly one mile long with wayfinding signage and a small trailhead and parking area at the bottom of Basil Street with approximately five spaces, including one accessible space. Future phases described in the presentation included a pedestrian bridge to connect to Smack Park and an extension to Leonard Road.
Funding and schedule Bibler listed two ODNR funding programs being considered (the Recreational Trails Program and the Clean Ohio Trail Fund) and said one grant can award up to about $500,000 and the other up to about $150,000. He said the current grant application round is due in March (staff referenced a mid‑March submission date) and that, if funded, construction would most likely occur in 2026; review decisions for the grant cycle were described as unlikely before October.
Public comments and concerns Residents at the hearing offered both support and caution. One resident asked how the village would keep pedestrians and bicyclists from trespassing on private property and expressed worry about hunters and stray bullets near properties adjoining the towpath. The resident asked whether fencing or other barriers were planned. Bibler said the hearing was informational and that staff would record and consider those concerns while preparing the application.
Other commenters praised similar trails in nearby counties and said such paths are generally well used and maintained; Dan Rochon, who spoke at the hearing, suggested incorporating historical signage about the canal along the route. Staff confirmed letters of support are part of the grant packet and that the village’s countywide active‑transportation study alignment strengthens the application.
Next steps Bibler said the village will prepare a resolution for the next council meeting authorizing staff to submit an ODNR grant application. He asked for public input and suggested the village publish questions and a short online survey to widen community feedback ahead of the March application deadline.
Ending No funding was approved at the hearing; the council will consider a resolution authorizing the grant submission at its next meeting. Staff asked residents to provide additional comments via the village website or social media to inform the application.
