Over 80 persons attended a windy and cold but exciting ribbon cutting on Oct. 21 for Lions Way Bike and Pedestrian Pathway.
CLICK HERE for a story on the history of bike paths in Bluffton.
LOTS OF PHOTOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY!
Lions Way was named to recognize the efforts of the Bluffton Lions Club and Bluffton Lions Foundation, which spearheaded the project.
The bike and pedestrian pathway project measures seven-tens of a mile and was built at a cost of approximately $123,000.
The dedication program included an invocation by Rev. Kevin Mohr of the Bluffton Area Ministerial Association, comments from Dick Ramseyer, Judy Augsburger, Bluffton mayor, and Katherine Kreuchauf, president, The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.
The Foundation provided one-half of the funding of the project.
Dick Ramseyer presided over the event. Here are his comments:
We are here this afternoon for the dedication and ribbon cutting for the extension of a Bluffton pathway project that was given birth over 44 years ago.
In the late 1970s, when Ropp and Mary Em Triplett launched an effort to create a bike and pedestrian pathway off of College Avenue under I-75 to the village park and another pathway from State Route 103 along the south side of National Quarry to the Allen-Hancock County Line Road. Ten years later in the late ‘80s the pathways were completed.
Now fast forward 20 years: A July 2009 the Comprehensive Bluffton Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan was created. The Bluffton Lions and Village of Bluffton jointly paid for the plan. The Bluffton Council then created the Bluffton Pathway Board with the assigned responsibility to implement the Master Plan.
The Bluffton Pathway Board members are: Greg Denecker, Dr. James Harder, John Rich, Dima Snyder, Fred Steiner, Laura Voth, Dick Ramseyer and liaison members representing the village are Mitch Kingsley and Jamie Mehaffie.
Since the development of the Master Plan the Bluffton Pathway Board and the Bluffton Lions Foundation Board have been researching community pathway developments in other locations, negotiating right of way agreements with land owners, engineering, site planning and raising the needed funds to construct the pathways.
So today, we are officially announce the naming of the pathway Lions Way. We will now unveil a special recognition plaque honoring those donors and leaders who provided the financial resources, vision and dedication.
This was possible because of raising over $123,000 from 36 individuals, businesses, Corporations, the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation and five year of planning by volunteers.
The Bluffton pathway that started 44 year ago is the catalyst for the new cycle of development today. With this project and more to come the Bluffton community recognizes that the pathway system has important benefits:
• it improves our quality of life,
• it impacts positively the health of people, which is important to industry and
• it helps Bluffton develop into tourist destination point.
This project also impacted Main Street, by attracting an established retail bicycle business to relocate in Bluffton.
I want to take a moment to read a statement from the Triplett family.
“The Triplett family grew up riding their bicycles around Bluffton. Dad encouraged us by riding his bike to the office during the week and to the tennis courts on weekend. We are certain that the Lions way will encourage others in a similar way. Thanks you Lions for this path that makes Bluffton an even more wonderful community.”
The Bluffton Lions Foundation Board and club members are important stakeholders in the pathway development.
By providing leadership, volunteers and the 501 (c) (3) tax exempt Foundation to receive pathway donations, provide accounting records and transaction services.
Foundation Board members are: Greg Denecker Lowell Hostetler, Mitch Kingsley, Stephanie Larcom, Dick McGarrity, Barbara Plaugher, Willis Sommer, Ed Yeager and Dick Ramseyer.
Please note that 200 feet of Lions Way along Commerce Lane to Route 103 has not been completed.
ODOT and the Village of Bluffton will be working together to address vehicle traffic issues and safety concerns for individuals walking too and from businesses along State Route 103, rather than exposing pathway users to this immediate safety issue, the last 200 feet will not be completed until intersecting along the highway is safe.
PHOTOS:
• Katherine Kreuchauf, president, Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation
• Ribbon cutting
• Dick Ramseyer give Judy Augsburger, Bluffton mayor, the key to the bike path
• Greg Averesch and Jim Harder unveil the Lions Way sign
• Dick Ramseyer addresses those attending the event
