LOUDONVILLE — A new Riverside Park trail connector is closer to reality after years of planning.
The Riverside Park Connector received $300,000 through Ohio’s capital budget, announced earlier in June. More than $1 million was allocated for community projects in Ashland County.
The 0.3-mile connector will fill a gap in Loudonville’s existing trail network, linking Riverside Park to downtown Loudonville businesses and the Mohican area. The path will begin near the Riverside Park parking lot and end near the intersection of Spring and Main streets.
Rather than creating an entirely new trail, this will link existing paths to create a safer, more accessible route.
In addition to the $300,000 in state dollars, the village applied for additional funding through the Clean Ohio Trails Fund. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will reimburse up to 75 percent of eligible costs if awarded.
Village Council member and Mohican Area Growth Foundation Vice President Matt Armstrong, along with the foundation, played a key role in planning the project. Armstrong said the village is grateful to receive state funding and hopes this project can build momentum for future projects in downtown Loudonville.
Residents identify pedestrian access improvements as priority
The connector grew from recommendations included in the Loudonville Downtown Plan in 2023. Residents identified improving pedestrian access and connecting Riverside Park to downtown Loudonville as a priority.
Residents described Riverside as disconnected from downtown, despite its potential. Below are some of those comments from residents:
“Needs more access.”
“Nice playgrounds and bridge but feels disconnected from downtown. Opposite side of river underutilized and unattractive.”
“Riverside has potential, but requires updates.”
The downtown plan also included support for expanding pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Residents favored improving connections between Riverside Park and downtown Loudonville, according to the plan.
Armstrong said this is just one piece of a larger effort to improve access throughout the Mohican Area.
“The most dangerous section of the current path is where it shares the roadway with Route 3 along Mohican State Park to the park entrance,” Armstrong said.
Next steps
The long-term goal will extend a dedicated path through Mohican State Park, eliminating pedestrians and bicyclists from sharing the roadway. Armstrong said this project will require additional planning before it becomes a reality.
The Mohican Area Growth Foundation also plans to improve the bike path in front of Trails End Restaurant, adding additional parking spaces and safety measures for the path. This portion would preferably be complete before the annual 5K race takes place along the bike path.
The community and local businesses showed continued support for the bike path improvements, including Bear Bait Bike & Board, one of Loudonville’s newer businesses.
“The bike path has always received a lot of community support, both business and personal, and we had positive feedback when requesting letters of support for the ODNR Clean Ohio Trails Fund grant for the trail connector,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong said the construction timeline is not yet finalized. It’s uncertain whether Birch Drive, South Spring Street and West Bustle Street will need temporary road closures, he said.
State Rep. Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) has also expressed interest in attending a ribbon cutting ceremony once the project is complete.
“One of the most rewarding parts of serving as State Representative is working alongside local leaders to bring resources back home,” Miller said in a June 10 press release.
“These capital budget investments are the result of strong partnerships and a shared vision for Ashland and Medina counties. By investing in our communities today, we are creating opportunities and improving quality of life for families for years to come,” she said.
