Former GCP&T Director Charles “Ed” Dressler Named Bike Miami Valley Advocate of the Year

Long recognized as the “Father” of paved trails in Greene County and throughout southwestern Ohio, former Greene County Parks & Trails (GCP&T) Director Charles “Ed” Dressler was named the 2017 Bike Miami Valley Advocate of the Year at the recent Miami Valley Cycling Summit.

“We’re so proud to have a member of the Greene County Parks & Trails family receive the recognition they so richly deserve,” says GCP&T Director Chrisbell Bednar. “Ed is truly an icon for the rails-to-trails movement throughout Ohio.  With persistence and passion, Ed welcomed any opportunity to speak, write or petition to make our paved trails network a reality.”

Dressler, a resident of Yellow Springs, was hired in Greene County in 1974 as the second county parks and recreation director and first director of the Greene County Park District. During his 22 years of service in Greene County, he helped acquire 900 acres of parkland, developed more than 1,000 acres and the leading voice in transforming former railroad tracks into paved trails.

He has also been earlier inducted into the Ohio Parks and Recreation Hall of Fame.

Park and trails professionals from as far away as Canada travelled to Greene County to experience the paved trails network.

Today, Greene County Parks & Trails manages 62 miles on the five paved trails in Greene County and is part of the nation’s largest paved trail network.

All communities in Greene County have benefitted from Dressler’s legacy, Bednar adds.

“Greene County and all the communities within its boundaries are now enjoying the rewards the paved trails network --- all made possible by Ed's lifetime of passion and work,” Bednar adds.