New bikeway links historic sites

  • Published
  • By Derek Kaufman
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The National Park Service and Greene County Park District on Monday officially opened the T-Connector, a new multi-use bikeway connecting the Dayton Aviation Heritage Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center and the Huffman Prairie Bikeway to other Greene and Montgomery County trail systems in the Miami Valley area.

Located near the entrance to the Wright Brothers' Memorial at Kauffman Avenue and Route 444 in Fairborn, the project consisted of a 146-foot bridge over the Norfolk and Southern Rail right-of-way and a 164-foot tunnel beneath State Route 444 along with connecting bike trail pavement, according to Greene County Park officials. Total cost of the project was $1.8 million.

The bridge deck is made of advanced composite materials originally developed for aircraft by Air Force Research Laboratory scientists at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, said Col. Jay Strickler, 88th Air Base Wing vice commander. It was manufactured at the National Composite Center facility in Kettering, Ohio.

Col. Strickler joined a number trail enthusiasts and dignitaries to dedicate the project, including Greene County Park District commissioner Tony Sculimbrene, National Park Service North Country National Scenic Trail representative Ken Howell, and U.S. Rep. David Hobson, who helped secure funding.

Rep. Hobson hailed the Air Force Research Laboratory facilities at Wright-Patterson as "one of the best treasures this country has." He cited the newly constructed bridge a demonstration project for future construction efforts using advanced composite materials. 

Wright-Patterson AFB was among many government agencies that supported the project and provided right of way access.

"It's fitting that the latest addition to this trail network brings visitors right to Huffman Prairie Flying Field within the heart of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base," Col. Strickler said, noting many base cyclists would take advantage of the new trail connector.

Trail users will now be able to safety and conveniently access Huffman Prairie Flying Field and Interpretive Center, along with the Wright Brothers' Memorial, just two of four sites that make up the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. It also connects the City of Fairborn and facilities such as Wright State University and Wright Patterson AFB to the rest of the trail system throughout Greene and Montgomery Counties, Mr. Sculimbrene said.

Local parks officials said negotiations with railway officials to completely connect the bikeway with the Mad River trail to downtown Dayton are ongoing.

The National Park Service also announced that the North Country National Scenic Trail, a winding collection of trails planned to ultimately connect seven states from New York to North Dakota, would follow Ohio's Buckeye Trail route through the Dayton Area and include the new T-Connector linking the region's historic sites.

"None of this could have happened without the vision and dedication of local trail enthusiasts," Mr. Howell said.

For more information, contact Greene County Parks at (937) 562-7440.