News From the West - Ohio That Is

This is an email update from Keith Brown of the Great Sandy Beaver Canal Chapter, NCTA who are our neighbors directly to the west:


Hi everyone:

At the Chapter meeting Sat. April 10 it was decided schedule a workday the 3rd Sat. of each month . The 3rd Sat of
April is this coming Sat. April 17.

Therefore I will meet anyone interested in working next Sat. at 9:00 in the morning at the Beaver Creek State Park Camp Ground on Leslie Rd. We will be flagging a trail relocation in the park and doing more trail maintenance. Tools will be furnished. Bring water and lunch.

To get there from SR7 turn onto Carlisle Rd. going east and then right onto Leslie Rd. The campground is on the left at the top of the hill.

Keith Brown

Minutes of the Great Sandy Beaver Chapter of the NCTA

In attendance were Keith Brown, Brad Bosley, Peter Zelinka, Ken Jones, Andrew Bashaw, NCTA Regional Trail Coordinator OH/PA and Dave Brewer, co-work leader of the Wampum Chapter, PA

The meeting was a breakfast meeting held at the Taste of Country Restaurant north of Lisbon Ohio Sat. April 10 at 9:00 am.
Keith Brown reported that the new trail constructed last year from Beaver Creek State to SR7 is in jeopardy. Tod L., the son who will inherit the property just west of the Park says he wants no part of the trail. In the future we need to be certain that all members and stake holder in the property are party to any agreement we make. Keith will try get a meeting with current parent owners to see if the trail can be salvaged.

The following actions were taken

1. To extend the trail for which the Great Sandy Beaver Chapter is responsible all the way from the PA line to where it joins the Buckeye Trail.

2. Brad Bosley reported that we need to find storage space for tools other than in his garage. Keith is to check with Beaver Creek State Park officials to see if they can provide storage space for our tools.

3. Keith reported that we need to maintain existing trail as well as build new trail. Thus we need to assign members to maintain existing trail. Jenny Simpson and Ron Gorman have expressed interest in maintaining trail in the park and Peter Selnick also expressed interest.

4. Brad Bosley agreed to present a plan to the Lawyer for the Vodrey property fr their approval. he feels fairly confident they will agree. If this can be accomplished we could construct trail from the nature preserve to SR 170.

5. Keith will continue contacting property owners fro Beaver Creek State Park to Lusk Lock.

6. Keith will also confer with Park officals about flagging a trail relocation On the Upper Vondergreen Trail from Gretchen,s Lock to the top of the hill.

7. Keith will also be in contact with Bob Fonte to see what progress Stark County has made in acquiring property for hiking and bicycle tail tin the Magnolia, Waynesburg, Malvern area.


Respectfully submitted, Keith Brown

PS. The last two Saturdays work parties succeeded in clearing the entire NCT through Beaver Creek State Park. Although the trail still needs work it is easily hikable as of now.

Monday I conferred with Tod at the Park Office. He feels they will be able to work out storage for our tools. He also likes the idea of relocating the NCT from Gretchens Lock to the top of the hill. The horses can then have that rocky mess that now exists for themselves. He thinks as we plan new trail locations we should involve the horse people in the planing so they will take ownership of the horse trails as we take ownership for the NCT trail through the Park