By Jenna Esarey
Special to The Courier-Journal
The Ohio River Greenway project dedicated another half-mile segment of multi-use trail Saturday with a ribbon cutting in Clarksville's Ashland Park.
The brief ceremony was followed by a walk/bike ride along the now 2-mile stretch of completed trail between the park and the George Rogers Clark replica cabin.
Construction of the new segment began late last fall and was finished just last week, said Brian Kaluzny, superintendent of the Clarksville Parks Department.
"Thunder (Over Louisville) kind of took a toll on it," he said. "It still looks really good, despite a few gouges and rough spots."
The Ashland Park segment includes new sidewalks, a bike path, benches and handicap-accessible picnic tables.
Near the trailhead, a large green sign welcomes visitors to the Ohio River Greenway.
"I love it," said Mattie Leavell, of Clarksville, as she explored the area for the first time. "I missed coming down here during the construction."
Leavell said she would read and drink coffee in the park three days a week before the construction work started.
"The benches are much nicer now," she said. "I can't wait to get back down here."
During the ceremony, park and trail users went about their business of enjoying the weather and the spectacular views of the Louisville skyline.
"It's nice to see people using the park and eating lunch out here," Kaluzny said.
With funding for the project divided equally between the federal government and "non-federal sponsors," the commission has welcomed funding from local governments and members of the community.
Just before the official ribbon cutting, the Fat Boys Bicycle Club presented a check for $1,500 to the Friends of the Ohio River Greenway.
"Two years ago we wanted to do something unique," said Steve Wilkinson, founder of the 10-12 member club. "So we started Le Tour de Pork."
Le Tour de Pork, a bike ride/barbecue lunch dedicated to raising funds for the Greenway, will hold its third ride Aug. 13 at St. John the Baptist Church in Starlight.
When completed, the Greenway will run six miles along the Ohio River from Jeffersonville, through Clarksville and into New Albany.
Planners hope to ultimately use existing bridges to connect with trails on the Kentucky side of the river to complete a 13-mile loop.
That dream is one step closer to reality as Jeffersonville has recently secured funding for its access ramp for the new pedestrian walkway on the Big Four Bridge.
Once completed, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross over to Louisville's Waterfront Park without worrying about automobile traffic on the Second Street Bridge.
"It should really be a big draw for the area," said Philip Hendershot, chairman of the Ohio River Greenway Development Commission.
The trail was drawing new users -- literally within minutes -- as friends Nicki Taylor, of Louisville, and Missey Badgett, of Floyds Knobs, walked through shortly after the ribbon cutting.
The two meet weekly in downtown Louisville to walk.
"We were crossing the Second Street Bridge and saw a bunch of people over here and came over to see what it was," Badgett said.
After walking only a small section of the trail the two were won over.
"We're meeting here from now on," Taylor said. "We now have a new walk."
Information
For more information on the Ohio River Greenway, www.ohiorivergreenway.org.
For more information on Le Tour de Pork, visit www.tourdeporkride.com.