Politics & Government

Open House Previews Kent Hike, Bike Trail Interpretive Signs

Kent Parks and Recreation debuting panels that will line The Portage Hike and Bike Trail

An open house today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will give Kent residents and hike and bike enthusiasts a sneek peak at interpretive, historic panels planned for The Portage Hike and Bike Trail.

The new panels, which will be installed later this spring, will provide users of the trail with snapshots of the trail land's history, the surrounding environment and a map guiding people along the trail as it winds through Kent.

Specifically, the panels focus on the natural history and history surrounding the Cuyahoga River, Standing Rock, the Erie Railroad and yards, P & O Canals, Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad, the Kent Water Treatment Reclamation Facility and Breakneck Creek. The trail crosses through or near all of these historic elements of the city.

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The open house, sponsored by the , will be held in the Old Jail at at 497 Middlebury Road. The open house will be held today and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The interpretive panels were designed by the Tucker Image Design Group.

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Jim Tucker, the owner of the design group, said in an e-mail the panels include extensive historical research, fascinating photos and documents. The panels feature full-color layouts documenting  Kent's rich history, including Native American artifacts, the economic engine of the railroads, the short but colorful story of the canals and the flora and fauna of the Cuyahoga River's natural history.

"Utilizing a state-of-the-art, high resolution, 12-color printing process, these signs have already received enthusiastic reviews by both parks and sign industry observers," Tucker said. "Twelve of these large 26-inch-by-56-inch displays will grace the trail from Middlebury Road to Breakneck Creek, and provide people of all ages a unique educational experience as they enjoy the beauty of the trail through the city of Kent."

The $25,000 sign installation project, commissioned by Kent parks and recreation, was paid for through Community Development Block Grant dollars.

The project included input from the and the Portage County Historical Society. Kent residents Cathy and Emliss Ricks did much of the historical research and created the design concept and layout of the panels, Tucker said. Emliss Ricks worked for more than 20 years as a preserve manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.


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