FMCPT Trail Highlights Over the Years
After some 25 years of wandering, FMCPT finally lands in a new office and storage area thanks to our good friends at MATCO Services. Room enough for all of our trail equipment, ride and event items, plus a small office space. And we now use MATCO’s conference room for our…
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After years of effort, the Community Mural Park officially opened with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony on June 30, 2023. The turnout was tremendous and the support for the project has been amazing! A true “community” effort brought to life this wonderful welcoming to trail travelers arriving from the east.
Gene Pass June 12, 1933—September 27, 2022 If you ever rode the Ohio to Erie Trail (OTET) through London, it is very possible that you either saw or met Gene Pass. Gene knew no strangers. Gene was one of the founding board members of the Friends of Madison County Parks…
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Our official groundbreaking ceremony for the Community Mural Project happened on Celebrate Trails Day 2021 (formerly “Opening Day for Trails). Mayor Pat Closser, Park Board Commissioners Tony Xenikis and Chris Wallace, Madison County Historical Society Board President JT Byrd, Marlin Bradley with the Madison County Engineer’s office, MATCO CEO Van…
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Lots of folks involved – from FMCPT to MATCO Services to the Madison County Historical Society to the London Visual Arts Guild to local businesses and political folks – who’ve started to bring to life the “Community Mural Project” along Roberts Pass by the MATCO building. The initial ground clearing…
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The challenges of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop FMCPT and the Madison Soil & Water Conservation District from holding perhaps our best Prairie Appreciation Ride ever – masks and social distancing included! The new ride brochure, developed by MSWCD’s Julia Cumming, was such a hit that we created one…
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The COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020 caused many people to hit the trails – biking, walking, running – as there were so many things you otherwise couldn’t do, so trail use soared. However, social distancing and “stay at home” orders led to the cancellation and/or postponement of many trail-related events across…
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Friends of Madison County Parks & Trails have entered into their 20th year of working to develop and improve trails and the associated parks in Madison County as well as promote the community which enjoys them.
FMCPT.com added an online store feature all sorts of “print-on-demand” items, each of which features the FMCPT logo, and proceeds from which support FMCPT efforts.
During the spring and summer of 2019, the Prairie Grass Trailhead received quite a few enhancements, including: a bicycle “Fix-It” station; a water bottle filler; the “Rustic Rinse” station for traveling campers; access to a warm water tap for rinse station comfort; a paint job for the bathroom, water fountain,…
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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for 1,600’ section of the trail from Maple Street to Walnut Street. The section was opened to the public on June 7, 2018.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) decided to celebrate Ohio’s opening across Ohio of U.S. Bicycle Route 50 in London (partly because of FMCPT’s reputation!)
The Ohio Senate honored FMCPT for Exemplary Achievement for its “remarkable records of service to the area” when the Prairie Grass and Roberts Pass trails were added as sections of US Bicycle Route 50.
A primitive trailside camping area was opened at the Prairie Grass Trailhead. By the end of 2019, people have stayed there from all over Ohio, 34 other states, and 13 other countries, with very positive reviews.
Jack McDowell was an FMCPT Board Director for several years and one of the most prominent persons in central Ohio to help propagate local wildflowers and prairie grasses (one species is unique to this area of the world). The Friends hope this memorial will encourage people to reflect on McDowell’s…
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London, Madison County, and FMCPT included in a feature story about the Ohio to Erie Trail written by Lee Chilcote in the Rails to Trails Magazine.
FMCPT is featured in the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s “Community Built: Stories of Volunteers Creating and Caring For Their Trails.”
Jerry Miller (shown) and other FMCPT members constructed 2 large display cases to showcase local amenities that trail travelers might enjoy and also maps to show the approved bicycle routes through London to cross the trail “gap.” One is where Roberts Pass ends entering London from the east and the…
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Metro Parks officially opened the Ohio to Erie Trail from Wilson Road in Madison County to Battelle Darby Metro Park in Franklin County.
The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure sets up “GOBAville” in London for two nights with over 2,700 cyclists bringing in over $300,000 to the community.
Ohio to Erie Trail signs showing distance to near-by towns were installed in Madison County. These signs included the new trail number of “1” for the Ohio to Erie Trail.
Eagle Scout project to clean up proposed London Nature Preserve.
The city of London was awarded $272,000 as part of the “Safe Routes to School” grant.
Roberts Pass Trailhead ribbon cutting ceremony officially opens the Roberts Pass section of the Ohio to Erie Trail, honoring longtime FMCPT leaders Wayne Roberts and Gene Pass.
Pipe safes were installed to help raise funds to maintain the trail.
Artistic “London” bike rack, fabricated by the welding class at Tolles Career & technical center, installed at Prairie Grass Trailhead.
Wilson Road Trailhead parking area paving and car stops installment completed.
FMCPT Board Member Bill Young was remembered for his many years of service for the Ohio to Erie Trail and our community. A memorial dedication ceremony to honor was held and a stone marker to his memory was placed at the Prairie Grass Trailhead. Bill was involved with the Ohio…
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Trail users got a big boost with the addition of 26 new parking spaces at the Prairie Grass Trailhead making trail access much easier for more people.
The memorial park at the Prairie Grass Trailhead was opened with a dedication ceremony honoring Richard McKenzie and Stacy Taylor-Meredith with memorial benches, near the “Mackenzie Bridge” which was dedicated in 2004.
The now-paved Roberts Pass section of the Ohio to Erie Trail was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring the two longtime trail advocates for whom the trail section was named: Wayne Roberts and Gene Pass.
The trail extension with a crushed limestone surface from Maple Street to Wilson Road is officially opened, and a surprise honor was bestowed upon longtime trail volunteers, Wayne Roberts & Gene Pass, with the naming “Roberts Pass” for this trail section.
Construction equipment arrives and trail work is started for the new Maple Street to Wilson Road section of the Ohio to Erie Trail.
Prairie Grass Trailhead shelter construction wrapped up and opened to the public.
It took more than 5 years to establish this 10 mile section of paved recreational trail, but the results are celebrated by all.
FMCPT sent an extensive letter to London City Council members and city administrative leaders about the drainage issues at Maple Street and the opportunity to correct the problem when the trail is built.
The IRS officially granted the Friends of Madison County Parks & Trails organization non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation status.
Somewhere in November 1999, the first informal gathering of a group of friends met to discuss the Rails-to-Trails concept and how it might help the local Madison County community. They would eventually evolve into the Friends of Madison County Parks & Trails. (Ride On!)
Park districts from Clark and Madison Counties filed suit in Madison County Common Pleas Court as part of the “process of negotiation” typically used by park districts in pursuit of bike paths.