MOUNT VERNON — Local officials are working to make a connector trail between the Kokosing Gap and Mohican Valley trails a reality.

Representatives of Danville, the Knox County Park District, the Knox Community Foundation, the Area Development Foundation, and the Kokosing Gap Trail Board met with the county commissioners on March 14 to review preliminary plans.

The KGT ends at Richards Street in Danville, and the MVT begins at East Street. Connecting the two is one initiative in the village’s strategic plan.

“Typically, trails would follow the railroad bed, but Danville Feed and Supply has a building on the railroad bed,” explained Sam Filkins, ADF vice president.

“We looked at using an existing bridge on the state route, but it wasn’t wide enough to do a bike trail, and we would have to build a new bridge. That would cost too much.”

Lisa Loyd of the KCF added, “We think the easiest way is to build a bridge over the creek behind the feed mill in Danville.”

Plans call for cyclists to come off of the KGT, head north on Richards Street to Tilton Street, and then east to South Market Street.

Cyclists will cross South Market onto village-owned land, skirt the perimeter of what will become Thomas Wayne Cottrell Jr. Memorial Park, cross the new bridge, and access the Mohican Valley Trail.

The connector trail will be a raised boardwalk over the wetlands areas.

The crosswalk on South Market will include warning lights and roadway striping.

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Connector trail brings commerce

Filkins said Danville is one of the few villages that import workers. More than 32 percent of them are in retail and food services.

“They would benefit from tourism and commerce,” he said. “The reality is we’re not able to build a large industrial place in Danville, so this is the comparative option.”

“This will be good for commerce,” Danville Mayor Joe Mazzari agreed. “A lot of people come in, but they don’t know where to go.”

KGT board member Randy Cronk said that Danville is the last commercial area before Millersburg.

“For people cycling across the state, Danville is really an important place to either stop for the night or refuel,” he said.

Mazzari said the village provided primitive campsites last year, which enabled 32 riders to spend some money and stay in the village. Two large groups stayed at the park in previous summers.

“If we could just get them into town, there’s more to look at,” he said.

“Even bringing riders to the middle of the village at Tilton Street, they can see the square, and it looks like a place you can reach,” Filkins said.

Cottrell Memorial Park

Having a stopping place with a water fountain and picnic tables is essential. Community members have donated funds for a Thomas Cottrell pavilion, and the idea grew into a park.

“This started with trying to take away the sorrow of what happened,” Mazzari said of the park’s origins. This will give them a place to go.”

The preliminary project cost is around $350,000. Grant funding is available but requires paying the prevailing wage. Village officials are calculating costs without grant money using lower wage rates.

“The community in Danville might not have as much to give, but they have very giving hearts,” Filkins said.

Mazzari said he is proud of the business district and Main Market & Beyond, the village’s business association.

“That was a non-existent group,” he said. “They all just come together and try to make the town better. They are very thoughtful of what the town should look like.”

The village is working on moving telephone poles, smoothing out catch basins, creating a decorative entrance to the park, and obtaining necessary easements.

“The 10-year mark [of Officer Cottrell’s death] is two years away. We are hoping to get all of the easements in place so we can start fundraising next spring,” Mazzari said.

by Cheryl SplainMarch 25, 2024