EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – With fundraising efforts underway for the local portion of a bike trail between the Ohio River and Lake Erie, donations have started to come in.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has awarded $1.7 million in state funding for The East Liverpool Heritage Bike & Walking Trail, which is now required to commit $185,000 in matching funds.
These funds will then be used to complete the phase 1 design and engineering for the crucial East Fifth Street to Pennsylvania Avenue segment of the project.
According to Lisa Painter, deputy director of LeapHub, more than $51,000 of the needed amount has been donated or pledged by various sources in the community, including corporations, foundations, local sponsors and individuals.
“We did better than we expected,” Painter said of the first month of fundraising efforts.
The East Liverpool Hospital Auxiliary donated $7,500, and Painter said the hospital itself is expected to make a considerable donation in January.
A $4,000 donation from the Calcutta Walmart came about through the legwork of Mayor Bobby Smith after he followed up on information given to City Council about a year ago by a Walmart employee, who outlined the store’s pattern of giving donations.
Smith went to the store to seek a donation and prepared an application, resulting in the donation toward the bike trail project.
A $2,000 donation was received from the Potterstown Foundation, and donations of $1,000 each were recently accepted from the Chester VFW, East Liverpool Rotary and Farmers National Bank’s Bradshaw Avenue location, as well as a $300 donation from the Chester American Legion’s Sons of the American Legion and a $200 donation from Marc and Cyndi Hoffrichter.
Painter said many people have sent donations between $10 and $100. “We got a lot of donations after the mayor did a video about the project,” she said.
Though some people have voiced concerns that small, individual donations may be scoffed at, Painter said, “We want everybody’s money.” She added that the group has applied for grants from several corporations and is considering seeking funds from some foundations as well.
“This trail is more than a path. It’s a catalyst for new tourism, connecting the city to the national Lake-to-River Greenway Network, for downtown revival, fueling new business and investments and for community wellness, creating a safe space for families to walk, run and explore,” Painter said in a news release.
As for fundraising, Painter stressed: “We’re going to keep at it.”
More information about donating is available at DowntownEastLiverpool.com. All donations are tax deductible.
Pictured at top: Walmart in Calcutta contributed $4,000 to the fundraising effort. From left are Bill Reiner, East Liverpool Community Partnership for Revitalization president-elect; Will Mauzy, Walmart assistant manager; Mayor Bobby Smith; Stu Wallace, LeapHub executive director; Andy Garwood, Walmart store manager; and Lisa Painter, LeapHub deputy director.