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Knox County Park District outlines trail repairs, new park opening and levy plan
Summary
Park District Director Dave Madhouse told commissioners the Gap Trail repaving solicitation is under way, the district aims to open The Woodlands May 9, 2026, and the board is considering a levy renewal that would raise the rate from 0.35 to 0.75 mil.
Dave Madhouse, director of the Knox County Park District, updated commissioners on trail maintenance, land acquisitions and a proposed levy increase during the Feb. 5 meeting.
Madhouse said the district is "in the process of soliciting bids for the Gap Trail repaving project that's being covered by a tap grant," and that County Engineer Cameron Keaton will issue the solicitation. He described a construction window that closes in March for bidding and targets September for mobilization, with the district seeking end-to-end mill-and-fill work to avoid repeated partial mobilizations.
The director reported deployment of 12 data loggers on county multiuse trails and said the system recorded "over 4,400 people on the path since January 1," a figure the district will use when applying for maintenance funding. He outlined plans to apply for a Recreational Trails Program maintenance grant administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to address pavement cracking and a failing culvert east of Top Dike Road, noting the culvert will require a full tear-out and replacement with an HDPE culvert.
Madhouse announced an official opening for The Woodlands set for May 9, 2026, at 1 p.m., with remarks and informal programming. He said the park will include a small maintenance parking lot now visible from Gilchrist Road and that the district has requested partial funding for a 40-by-50 reservable event shelter and adjacent ADA-compliant parking, which would be the parks' first reservable ADA facility if funded.
On land acquisitions, Madhouse said the district worked with the Philander Chase Conservancy to acquire roughly 40 acres, bringing the park to about 205 acres; the conservancy will hold title temporarily until the district secures funding to purchase the parcel.
He also described operational matters: the Park District board plans to run a levy renewal with an increase in November (proposed change from 0.35 mil to 0.75 mil) and is preparing spreadsheets for commissioners to review. Madhouse said the board intends to make a final decision about running the levy at a meeting next Wednesday and emphasized the goal of sustaining park operations without repeated reliance on grants.
The Park District will relocate its office to 104 B High Street in the coming week and operate with a minimal furniture setup until March while IT systems are completed.
The district fielded commissioners' questions about signage, parking capacity (Madhouse estimated approximately six vehicles for the new Upper Gilchrist lot once parking blocks are installed) and accessibility; he said the grade near the old-growth forest may allow wheelchair users to reach the forest edge though not to traverse around it.
The director closed his quarterly report by inviting further questions and thanking commissioners for their support.
