Patagonia grant and Morgan County easement strengthen Buckeye Trail protection

Patagonia grant supports the BTA

The Buckeye Trail Association was the proud recipient of a $2,000 grant from outdoor clothing and gear company Patagonia. Patagonia’s website describes the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) as “the leader in building, maintaining, protecting and promoting use of Ohio’s longest scenic hiking trail. BTA provides outdoor recreation, education and opportunities to volunteer. Patagonia donates 1% of sales every day to grassroots environmental groups. Since 1985, Patagonia has awarded over $89 million in cash and in-kind donations to domestic and international grassroots environmental groups making a difference in their local communities. We are grateful to Patagonia for their support of the Buckeye Trail.

Easement on Newburn Drive protects the Buckeye Trail

In June the Morgan County Commissioners voted to vacate a part of Newburn Drive (Road) along the Buckeye Trail at the request of an adjacent property owner. In the process, Mark Howdyshell, the County Prosecutor, negotiated the donation of a trail easement for the BT with the new landowner of the old road grade for the 0.77 miles of now decommissioned road. The easement follows the valley alongside Goshen Run, crossing the creek twice and a tributary to the creek once. There is no change to the BT route from the current information on the Stockport Section Map in this rare occasion of removing the road from the BT rather than relocating the BT off of roads! The trail easement area is blocked by logs with signs marked “Closed” or “Private.” Special thanks goes out to the Lowers Family Trust for the easement, the Morgan County Commissioners and Mark Howdyshell for making this happen. Contact us via e-mail at preservation@buckeyetrail.org
, if you are interested in doing map research of old roads on or near the BT in one of the County Engineers offices of the 48 counties that the BT passes through. If you’re interested in supporting our Trail Preservation efforts further, please visit the Trail Preservation page
and make a donation to the Trail Preservation Fund. All funds goes toward the efforts to protect the Buckeye Trail!

Easement details repeated for emphasis (original copy)

NIn June the Morgan County Commissioners voted to vacate a part of Newburn Drive (Road) along the Buckeye Trail at the request of an adjacent property owner. In the process, Mark Howdyshell, the County Prosecutor, negotiated the donation of a trail easement for the BT with the new landowner of the old road grade for the 0.77 miles of now decommissioned road. The easement follows the valley alongside Goshen Run, crossing the creek twice and a tributary to the creek once. There is no change to the BT route from the current information on the Stockport Section Map in this rare occasion of removing the road from the BT rather than relocating the BT off of roads! The trail easement area is blocked by logs with signs marked “Closed” or “Private.” Special thanks goes out to the Lowers Family Trust for the easement, the Morgan County Commissioners and Mark Howdyshell for making this happen. Contact us via e-mail at preservation@buckeyetrail.org, if you are interested in doing map research of old roads on or near the BT in one of the County Engineers offices of the 48 counties that the BT passes through.