Great Parks of Hamilton County has secured $6 million in federal transportation funds to build the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail. This important expansion of the regional trail network will connect the two parks and serve as a vital corridor to serve the surrounding communities for enhanced access to outdoor space.

“This grant further highlights Great Parks’ leadership in regional trail development which was the public’s top priority in the development of the Great Parks Comprehensive Master Plan,” said Todd Palmeter, CEO of Great Parks. “The Master Plan also calls for building more partnerships with trail-building entities and increasing the level of service for trails, both keys to this project.”

The grant is distributed by the OKI Regional Council of Governments through the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program.

The 3.6-mile trail will extend west from the West Fork Mill Creek Greenway Trail through Glenwood Gardens and join with the Harbor Loop Trail in Winton Woods. Together, these trails will provide more than 9 miles of continuous shared-use paths and vehicle-free travel, away from local roads. Construction of this segment, which is Phase 2 of the trail, will begin in 2025.

The Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail will pass through Forest Park, Greenhills, Woodlawn, Springfield Township and a wooded area of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission Glenview Golf Course. The 12-foot-wide paved trail will be accessible and suitable for walkers, runners, bicyclists and users of all abilities.

“This path builds on a broader vision to link major greenspaces in the Mill Creek Valley with a regional trail network,” said Wade Johnston, director of Tri-State Trails. “Over time, we hope to connect this corridor to Cincinnati’s CROWN trail network to the south, the Great Miami River Trail to the north, and Sharon Woods to the east. We’re thankful that Great Parks is taking the lead on implementing this critical segment.”

Great Parks had previously secured funding for Phase 1 of the project, which will begin construction in 2023. Phase 1 includes construction of a bus stop connection near the entrance to Glenwood Gardens at the intersection of Glendale Milford Road and Springfield Pike, a new sidewalk from the bus stop to the existing West Fork Mill Creek Greenway Trail, and a new signalized crosswalk across Glendale Milford Road.

Learn more about the project on the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail webpage. See a map of the trail route here.