Ohio & Erie Canal Southern Descent Heritage Trail
Various Sites Throughout Central And Southern Ohio
WHY
The Canal Partners is a coalition of communities in Southern Ohio along the alignment of the Southern Descent of the Ohio & Erie Canal. These communities have existing and lost features of the canal, as well as numerous related historical elements.
The goal of the Canal Partners is to create a heritage trail that will attract tourists throughout the corridor and to communicate the history of the canal system to a broad audience.
HOW
This grant-funded project included several team members including the project leaders, a graphic design consultant, the partner communities, and Designing Local.
The first phase process included engagement of the Canal Partners through workshops and a survey. This phase also included mapping of the resources and other sites along the trail. Once this was completed, a highly visual plan booklet of the sites was created which included descriptions of the various elements as well as a prototype trailhead design. Part of the project study will included bike and pedestrian trail connections to the canal right-of-way.
WHAT
The end product is being used by the partner communities in their planning and capital improvement projects for the next several years. The mapping will be used by tourists to experience the canal features. The project was completed in summer 2021.
