An all-volunteer 501c3 dedicated to Madison County and its little piece of the grand Ohio to Erie Trail

Friends of Madison County Parks & Trails

All Volunteer

Staffed 100% by dedicated volunteers, proud to support Madison County and the City of London.

Help & Care

Need repairs? Medical care? Moral support? We’ve got you covered with all these and more.

Eat, Drink, Camp

Water, coffee, grub, a place to camp… and friends. You’ll find them all here!

Complete the Trail!

Help us finish the job, completing the last phase to finish the trail through London. Every little bit helps!

Life is like a 10-speed bicycle - most of us have gears we never use.

-   Charles M. Schultz

I could never resist the call of the trail.

-   Buffalo Bill

One of the most important days of my life was when I learned to ride a bicycle.

-   Michael Palin

I loved the feeling of freedom in running, the fresh air, the feeling that the only person I'm competing with is me.

-   Wilma Rudolph

To me it doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or the sun is shining or whatever - as long as I’m riding a bike I know I’m the luckiest guy in the world.

-   Mark Cavendish

Running is nothing more than a series of arguments between the part of your brain that wants to stop and the part that wants to keep going.

-   Unknown

Life is like riding a bicycle: in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.

-   Albert Einstein

Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.

-   Oprah Winfrey

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.

-   Elizabeth West

I don’t run to add days to my life, I run to add life to my days.

-   Ronald Rook

Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.

-   John F. Kennedy

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

-   Henry David Thoreau

Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There's something wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym.

-   Bill Nye

Yes, I am round. Yes, I am slow. Yes, I run as though my legs are tied together at the knees. But I am running. And that is all that matters.

-   John Bingham

The bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world.

-   Susan B. Anthony

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.

-   Friedrich Nietzsche

Whoever invented the bicycle deserves the thanks of humanity.

-   Lord Charles Beresford

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.

-   Thomas Jefferson

Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the human race.

-   H.G. Wells

Walking is man's best medicine.

-   Hippocrates

The bicycle is the noblest invention of mankind.

-   William Saroyan

Walking is magic.

-   Paula Cole

When you ride a bike and you get your heart rate up and you’re out, after 30 or 40 minutes your mind tends to expand, it tends to relax.

-   George W. Bush

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.

-   John Muir

A bicycle is the finest mode of transport known to man.

-   Adam Hart-Davis

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

-   Will Rogers

Think of bicycles as ridable art that can just about save the world.

-   Grant Petersen

Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.

-   Steven Wright

Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling.

-   James E. Starrs

But the beauty is in the walking - we are betrayed by destinations.

-   Gwyn Thomas

As a kid I had a dream: I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bike I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world.

-   John Lennon

-   William Henry Davies

Now shall I walk or shall I ride?
"Ride," Pleasure said.
"Walk," Joy replied.

The bicycle is a curious vehicle - its passenger is its engine.

-   John Howard

This land was made for you and me.

- Woody Guthrie

It may not be glamping, but trail-side camping provides water, electricity, shelter house, picnic tables, and a real restroom!

From a do-it-yourself bike repair station to a full service bike repair shop – we can help you get riding smoothly again.

Enjoy coffee, meals or snacks, enjoy a little break time, and meet lots of rider-friendly friends at many bike-friendly shops in London.

Wondering what’s next? Need some insights? Wanna leave your mark? Check here for numerous trail-related resources.

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    Around 2009, an idea first developed during a conversation between Wayne Roberts with FMCPT and Van Viney, CEO of MATCO Services. It took a while, but in 2019 work began in earnest to begin construction of a "welcome" area on the east side of London. This was envisioned to compliment our beautiful "welcome" on the west side of town, the Prairie Grass Trailhead with its camping area, shelter house, and many other amenities. The original vision to create a multi-panel mural using the bricked-in windows of the old tile factory building that MATCO now owned was expanded upon to include a mini-park, a respite with benches, pleasant landscaping, and more.

    Many local people have contributed many, many hours of brain power and sweat equity to bring this project from an old factory wall and overgrown grounds to the trail highlight it has become. We have kept costs extremely low though all of the in-kind donations and almost innumerable hours of donated labor. But also, we received great support support for the funding we required, all from Madison County-area companies and people. It was, and is, a true "community" project.

    An added benefit was realized a couple of years ago when we found that we could easily create access to Roberts Pass for MATCO clients and employees. They previously had found  handicapped-friendly trail access difficult if not downright impossible. For the first time, they are able to safely access their next-door neighbor, the Roberts Pass section of the Ohio to Erie Trail!

    Further value was gained when Michele Bouquet and Sue Cline joined our efforts bringing the wisdom of the Madison County Master Gardeners with them. They, and many of their cohorts, contributed tons of time developing and implementing a gorgeous native plants garden in our mini-park, along with several pollinator plant zones. We hope to build on the value of this by adding educational kiosks throughout the mini-park. We also plan to work with area groups, including the OSU Extension Center, on educational opportunities for local schools, seniors, etc.