Ottawa County park district receives $1.1 million to extend trail

GENOA, Ohio — The Park District of Ottawa County will get $1.1 million in federal funding to extend the North Coast Inland Trail through Genoa’s Main Street Historic District and over Packer Creek, finishing at Ninth Street.

The money is part of the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program and is awarded through the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The program provides funding for a variety of projects, including on and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, community improvement activities, environmental mitigation, recreational trail program projects, and safe routes to school projects.

“Receiving these funds is a huge milestone for the Park District and the village of Genoa,” Park District Executive Director Jannah Wilson said in a statement. “Bringing the North Coast Inland Trail through the village will provide additional outdoor recreation opportunities to the surrounding community and Northwest Ohio.”

Once completed, the North Coast Inland Trail will connect Lorain, Huron, Sandusky, Wood, and Ottawa counties, with planned connections into Lucas County.