As the calendar inches ever closer to spring, Kent State University students and community residents are gearing up for the variety of warm-weather outdoor activities available in the region, including kayaking, biking, hiking and more.
Kent students and residents will gain even better access to outdoor recreation and travel, thanks to a new hike and bike trail that was approved by Kent City Council members on March 6.
According to a report from The Portager, the proposed Lake Rockwell Trail is intended to serve as a “nonmotorized connection” offering access between parks, residential neighborhoods, schools and commercial areas, as well connecting to the Portage and Summit County Freedom hike and bike trails. The trail would allow children to walk to school safely and enable people to access parks and downtown destinations without having to drive, the article noted.
“It’s not meant for people to drive to and park,” City Engineer Jim Bowling said at the council meeting. “It’s meant for Kent residents to travel from their neighborhoods to meaningful destinations without using their cars. We don’t have many of those in the area.”
The project will be funded by grants, according to the article, and a result, a timeframe for the start of construction has yet to be determined.
Read more about the proposed trail and location in The Portager.
WRITTEN BY: AMY ANTENORA