GCP&T Begins 2018 With Long List of Upcoming Construction, Renovations, Improvements

Both local residents and visitors to Greene County will experience extensive improvements and additional amenities to Greene County Parks & Trails (GCP&T) sites in 2018 with the majority of the projects funded by the passage of the Greene County Park District levy in 2015.

Greene County Parks & Trails Director Jon Dobney is excited about what the coming year holds for park patrons.

“Parks and trails throughout Greene County will see improvements added this year,” Dobney says, “as we move forward with fulfilling the promise we made to the voters who supported the levy.  All of us at GCP&T are excited to see the projects begin and what they will offer to both residents and visitors.”

Those projects made possible by the levy funds include:

• The Wright Brothers Huffman Prairie, Fairborn, multi-use trail will be repaved after existing crumbling concrete is removed.
• The outdoor raptor aviary at the Narrows Reserve, Beavercreek, will be rebuilt.
• The annex at the Narrows Reserve, Beavercreek, will be taken down due to safety reasons.
• All of the hiking trails at the Narrows Reserve, Beavercreek, will be rehabbed with new board walks, steps, improved drainage and access to the nature center.
• A bridge at the (lower) Narrows Reserve will be added to improve access to the southern portion of the park.
• Russ Nature Reserve, Beavercreek, will enter the next phase of its development focusing on water, sewer and design elements.
• The Russ Nature Reserve abandoned frame farm house along Kemp Road and its barn will be taken down to allow for future development of the park. (The Russ family home on the property will be developed as a multi-use venue.)
• Two overlooks near the waterfalls at Indian Mound Reserve, Cedarville, will be built for safe viewing of the scenic area.
• Caesars Ford Reserve and Caesars Ford Park will begin development with the addition of a primitive campground that could be phased in with more amenities in the future, multi-use trails, widening of the entrance road, removal of the farm house for safety reasons and possible redevelopment of the barn into a shelter.
• The remaining bridge will be replaced at Sara Lee Arnovitz Park, Xenia, with a total of four new bridges being replaced since last year.
• Continued removal of hazardous tree and ditch cleaning along the 62 miles of paved trails maintained by GCP&T.

In addition, other projects will be beginning and are made possible through other funding sources:

• The tennis courts at both the Fairgrounds Recreation Center and Frank Seaman Park will be resealed and funded by the Greene County Board of Commissioners.
• Creekside Trail from Xenia Station to Alpha will be repaved with funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation and matching funds from the levy.
• A parking lot will be added to Karohl Park, Beavercreek, to support the disc golf course and other visitors.

For more information about GCP&T or any of its 2018 projects, call 937.562.6440, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.gcparkstrails.com.