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January/February 2026
Trail Mail
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Morrow - a Buckeye Trail Town!
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By Diane Wright
The Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) is pleased to announce that the Village of Morrow has been designated as the 23rd Buckeye Trail Town, recognizing
its commitment to supporting hikers, cyclists, and outdoor recreation along the Buckeye Trail.
Morrow becomes the fourth Trail Town along the Little Miami State Park! Milford, Loveland and Spring Valley are also official Buckeye Trail Towns. Located
in Warren County, northwest of Cincinnati, Morrow sits directly along the Buckeye Trail, which runs concurrently with the Little Miami Scenic Trail through the center of the village. This prime location makes Morrow an inviting and accessible destination for
trail users.
In recent years, Morrow has experienced a surge of local small businesses that enhance the trail-town experience. Visitors can enjoy Depot Brewing Company,
the newly opened Morrow Bike Shop, and the farm-to-table Fresh to Morrow Café and Market. A longtime favorite among trail users, Miranda’s Ice Cream Shop, remains a popular stop for those passing through. Just one block off the trail, is the Morrow Arts Center,
home to over 30 unique studios and boutique shops as well as a bakery.
A formal Buckeye Trail Town dedication ceremony is planned for this spring, with additional details to be announced.
The Buckeye Trail Association and the Village of Morrow invite hikers and cyclists to experience the community’s hospitality and enjoy all that Morrow
has to offer along the trail.
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For additional historical information about the Village of Morrow, take a look at this article from Facebook, submitted by one of our readers.
History
of Morrow
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By Bill Brown
A generous donor, a memorial honoring a trail supporter and a trailhead needing an upgrade converged to create a wonderful opportunity for a project
at the Miamiville Trailhead near mile marker 48!
The trailhead in Miamiville near the VIllage Grocery is a very popular stop on the LIttle Miami State Park trail. The combination of parking availability,
grocery store, portolets and great view of the LIttle Miami River from the bridge make this one of the most traveled sections of the trail according to trial census data taken every year. The trail traffic at this trailhead often overwhelmed the seating facilities
at the site. There were only two benches and one was an old wooden bench at the end of its life. An upgrade was needed.
Dr. Robert Reed contacted the Friends of the LIttle Miami State Park (FLMSP) about honoring a long time FLMSP volunteer from Terrace Park with a memorial.
Bill Schwinn was a legendary trail volunteer and was an early Adopt-a-Trail segment owner maintaining the segment of trail from Wards Corner to Cunningham Rd. The Miamiville Trailhead is on this section of trail and locating the memorial there was a perfect
match!
Dr. Reed donated the necessary funds for volunteers to install three picnic tables and a second bench at the trailhead. The bench foundations were dug,
the concrete for the bases were poured and the tables were installed in November 2025. Bench installation followed soon afterward and all work was completed by December. Ernst Concrete donated the concrete for the table bases and the FLMSP South Crew (Bruce
Cortwright, Bill Brown, John Telintelo, Mike Dresch, John Schreiber, Stuart Lohrum, Fritz Buschmann) were joined by Memorial Bench program members Ron Gorley and Kevin Leamy for the installation work sessions.
The next time you're on the trail stop and enjoy the results of what can happen when a donor, a trail supporter memorial and FLMSP volunteers join together
to improve this incredible Ohio State Park!
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The Trail Crew getting the benches right!
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Many Hands (and a Chipper)
Make Light Work
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by Bill Brown
One of the trail volunteers biggest jobs on the trail, and maybe the most recognizable, is the removal of invasive plants, the most common being honeysuckle.
Videos from 15 years ago show the growth of honeysuckle on the edge of the trail so dense that it encroached on the trail. Besides impeding trail users, the plants also crowded out other native species of trees and flowers along the trail.
Friends of the Little Miami State Park (FLMSP) volunteers have been cutting the honeysuckle back from the trail for years which has resulted in more
open spaces in many places. Wild flower growth, views into the woods and views of the Little Miami River are now more common.
In the past, the large amount of cut brush was left in the woods or eventually chipped up when equipment was available. Brush did not decompose quickly
and it remained piled up along the trail.
Donor generosity meets trail volunteer needs! A trail supporter wanted to make a significant donation for equipment related to trail maintenance. That
donation coincided with the opportunity to buy a used, professional grade brush chipper! FLMSP volunteers purchased a Vermeer BC700 chipper in December 2025 and put it to work immediately. Honeysuckle is now chipped immediately after the brush is cut and the
resulting chips are used to mulch around benches and tables along the trail. Whenever you see a pile of wood chips on the trail or a freshly mulched bench you will know the donation from a generous supporter is being put to good use.
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As I compose this article, overnight lows in Northern Wisconsin, where I am staying, are nearly 30 degrees below zero, with wind chills to -50, while the Cincinnati area is bracing for a considerable
amount of snow. Providing the following ten driving tips for weathering the winter safely seems like an apropos topic.
- Practice driving in snowy or icy conditions in a safe setting to learn how your vehicle reacts.
- If you must travel, carry warm clothing, blankets, water, and food.
- Check the forecast for your route before setting out.
- Fully clear car windows of snow and ice before proceeding.
- When setting out, test conditions by applying your brakes in a safe setting.
- Allow plenty of following distance.
- To avoid sliding, slow down when approaching intersections and when turning.
- Signal well in advance.
- If stuck, accelerate slowly but steadily, avoiding spinning the tires. If necessary, rock your vehicle back and forth by alternating between Reverse and Drive.
- When pushing a stuck car, communicate clearly with the driver and stand to the side of the car.
With such safety features as anti-lock brakes, traction control, and all-wheel drive, modern vehicles are far better for winter driving than those of years past, but careful driving is still essential.
If you must drive in snowy or icy conditions, take your time and follow these tips to get where you are going safely.
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Editor's P.S.
4b. Also clear snow and ice from the roof, hood and trunk of your car or truck. That snow debris becomes a flying hazard for the vehicles behind you.
6b. Avoid using cruise control on wet or slick roads. The control will keep the wheels spinning at the set speed as you skid.
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Support Friends of
the Little Miami State Park
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An easy way to continue supporting Friends of the Little Miami State Park is through your Kroger Membership/Loyalty Card. Kroger's Community Rewards program awards an annual amount to your designated organization based on
your percentage of spending as it relates to the total spending associated with all participating Kroger Community Rewards organizations.
To enroll, simply open your Kroger Member account online and select the Community Rewards option. From there, you search for and select "Friends of the Little Miami State Park" to enroll in the program.
Now every time you shop and use your Membership account, FLMSP gets a donation. Easy!
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