Riders and their horses along with project supporters gathered at the trail head near the Preserve entrance off Ohio 202 just east of Tipp City for a morning ribbon cutting and trail dedication.
The trail is the second public facility to open in the county with an effort started a few years ago by the Miami County Equine Initiatives Task Force.
The first public trail opened in 2012 in Tipp City’s Kyle Park, a cooperative effort between the city, its park advisory board and the MCEITF.
The Honey Creek Preserve trail also is the result of a partnership with MCEITF, Scott Myers, park district executive director, said.
“To get to this point is a very exciting day for the park district, a very exciting day for Miami County and a very exciting day for horse lovers,” Myers said.
“Being able to partner with the task force, they have educated us and our staff quite a bit. They have been a great partner,” he added. “As the park district approaches our 50th anniversary in a couple of years, you will see more partnerships because it makes for better quality of life here in Miami County.”
Mick Retman, president of the Miami County Horsemen’s Council, recalled the days not too long ago when he had to take his horses from home in Troy to Kiser Lake in Champaign County or to Montgomery County to ride public trails.
“This organization made this a reality for a bunch of people,” Retman said of the trail and the task force. “There is going to be a lot of enjoyment of the nature that is around us.”
The Honey Creek trails were cleared in summer 2013 with services donated by Vegetation Technology Services. The task force constructed and installed the mounting block and hitching posts using materials provided by the county park district.
The trail will be tied into the Kyle Park trail via a connector that will go across privately owned land off Ohio 571, thanks to the property owner’s cooperation, said Steve Glaser, MCEITF chairman.
“It is neat the community is working with us to enjoy this beautiful land,” Glaser said.
Jim Asher, Tipp City’s parks superintendent, said crews would be blazing the connector between the trails over the winter.
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