Holmes County Rails to Trails gets facelift courtesy of federal funds

The Holmes County Rails to Trails is many things to many people.

For some it is a time to refresh the body, calm the mind, and create moments of peace and connection with the outdoors as they exercise through walking, running and bicycling.

For others, it presents a haven of travel that takes them off the dangerous and busy Holmes County roadways and presents a quiet, less traveled way to get from one point to another.

Yet for others, it serves as an avenue to explore Holmes County through new eyes, with the trail slicing through the heart of Amish Country.

Whatever the reason, Rails to Trails has become a huge part of Holmes County, and this past week, thanks to a grant that was close to $700,000, the trail received a needed facelift, both on the buggy travel side and the side where bikers, hikers, runners and walkers traverse.

The renovation project began approximately 1 mile north of Hipp Station in Millersburg and went clear to Killbuck, with Melway Paving patching holes and even repaving lengthy stretches of the buggy trail where needed.

Work began Monday, April 13 and continued throughout the week. When finished, Melway Paving had rejuvenated portions of the trail that needed redone.

“From Hipp Station all the way to the first bridge to the north, we got a whole new buggy lane,” said Jen Halverson, Holmes County Park District executive director and board member of Holmes County Rails to Trails Coalition. “At other spots they repaved 15- to 30-foot sections wherever needed.”

Halverson said the pavement work was completed during the week, and Melway Paving would come back later and add the chip-and-seal portion to the buggy lane.

The grant for the work came through the Federal Highway Administration, which went through Ohio Department of Transportation, to supply the grant funding. The actual grant was titled Transportation Alternatives Program.

“They are federal dollars, but it gets administered through ODOT,” Halverson said.

Halverson said since its inception more than 20 years ago, the trail has served an important purpose to the people of Holmes County and to travelers who often visit Holmes County to travel the length of trail traversing the entire county east to west.

“We are grateful to be a part of something this special,” Halverson said. “This trail has provided everything we ever hoped it would when the idea first came up, and projects through grant funding like this allow us to maintain it and keep it looking beautiful and safe for travel for everyone who uses it.”