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HOWLAND -- The Trumbull County MetroParks board wants to extend the Mahoning River water trail designation from Packard Park to the Ohio-Pennsylvania line in Poland Township in Mahoning County.
The metroparks board at a recent meeting authorized Zachary Svette, executive director, to apply to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the extension.
Svette said in 2012, the metroparks board obtained the Mahoning Water Trail designation for the section of the river from Foster Park to Packard Park where there are boat launches.
He said since then, there has been a lot of work along the river with dams being removed and boat launches installed.
Svette said the metroparks worked with Mahoning River Mayors Association, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and Western Reserve Port Authority to get support for extending the designation.
Svette said Poland Township is the last location in Mahoning County the Mahoning River goes through before it crosses the Pennsylvania line.
Several communities have been asked to or have already passed resolutions of support for the effort, including Howland, Girard, Niles and Weathersfield in Trumbull County,
Svette said in Mahoning County, support has been sought from the Mahoning County Commissioners, and officials in Youngstown, Struthers, Campbell, Lowellville, and Poland village and township.
Svette said the metroparks board is the local liaison to the state that needs to apply for the designation.
"In 2012, we were fortunate to receive the designation. Because we are the liaison to the state, everything goes through metroparks for the designation process,'' Svette said.
Officials said the designation supports the regional efforts to enhance recreational, historical and economic opportunities along the river, noting the Mahoning River is one of the Mahoning Valley's most significant natural resources and its importance to the environment.
Officials said the proposed extension is the result of years of planning and regional cooperation among municipalities, park districts and other public agencies dedicated to improving public access to the Mahoning River and promoting safe recreational opportunities.
Extending the water trail will allow local communities to pursue state, federal and private grant opportunities for constructing canoe and kayak launches, trailhead facilities, safety improvements, signage and river access points.
Officials said the proposed water trail will encourage outdoor recreation, paddlesports and heritage tourism, creating new opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the river in a safe and organized manner.
FINANCE REQUEST
In other business, board president Randy Fabrizio said he would like to begin preparing to make financial requests of the Trumbull County Commissioners for the funds needed to finance the metroparks in 2027.
Fabrizio said in 2026, the commissioners approved $136,000 for the metroparks, but more funds likely will be needed in 2027. He said he would like to get their concerns for more funding for the parks to commissioners ahead of time.
Svette said he also will let commissioner candidates he sees know about the concerns of the metro parks since they may be elected to the board in 2027.
The county commissioners hold budget hearings with various departments annually to see what each department's financial needs are.
Svete said road tax money has been able to be used for repairs at Canoe City and getting gravel for the parking lots at the various hunting property locations.
He said additional repairs will be needed in 2027.
Svette said there is also interest in getting sidewalks along Educational Highway in Champion. Also, Svette said phase 4 of the bike trail extension between Niles and Warren off Warren Avenue is near completion with safety work being done on a bridge area of the trail.
The bike trail is near the former RMI plant and Waddell Park and extends north to connect to the trail in Warren. Svette said when that section of the trail is completed, a ribbon cutting will be set for late September or early October.
HUNTING LOTTERY
Svette said the annual lottery for the hunting season will take place at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the metroparks offices. He said 68 people applied for the hunting permits, with 30 permits to be issued.
Svette said there are some properties where both bow and gun hunting are permitted and other places where only bow hunting is allowed.
He said this season, hunting will be allowed on the Kinsman metroparks property and new acreages at the Braceville Nature Preserve in addition to properties in Leavittsburg and Newton Falls.
Also approved was granting Svette permission to attend the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association meeting in February in Sandusky at a cost of $1,000. The last conference he attended was in 2023.