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As the year draws to a close, we thought this would be a good time to tell our members and donors about some of the work and fun performed by our volunteers along the trail. Of course, if you want to join
in on any of this fun work, reach out to volunteer. All hands are welcome. Enjoy and best wishes for a joyous holiday season and Happy New Year!
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By Dick Feldman
We are pleased to report that the Friends of the Little Miami State Park has a new trail maintenance team. Along with the mid-south and far-south
trail maintenance teams, out new team focuses on trail maintenance between the north boundary at Hedges Road extending to the park mid-point at the bridge in the Village of Morrow. Our north team meets every Monday morning, weather permitting.
Our initial focus this summer was the pushing back of the brush along the sides of the trail that was trying to grow into the trail. This
fall, we focused on trimming around the safety fences and making sure the culverts are clear and able to drain properly. In late fall, the north trail crew learned how to use the bump grinder and started grinding down the bumps in the pavement from root intrusion
between the Village of Corwin to Wilmington road. This project will continue this winter and into the spring, weather permitting.
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Trail Crews:
Mid-South Team
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By Rick Forrester
The Friends of the Little Miami State Park mid-south section of the trail covers the area from Mill Street in Morrow (Mile marker28.1) down
to Cones Road in Loveland (Mile marker 41.5). "Rick's Rowdies", as they are now called, are a very energetic bunch of volunteers willing to take on all tasks to keep the trail safe and beautiful. Accomplishing goals in 2025 was no exception.
Meeting every Thursday morning, the crew started off with homemade baked items to stoke our appetites prior to hitting the trail with a wide
variety of implements of destruction and construction. The South Lebanon to Morrow section was worked on multiple times to start reclaiming the ditches that were filled in after years of neglect after the trains stopped running in the 1970s. The crews first
use of the min-excavator was on installing a native flower garden alongside the trail in South Lebanon and then it was used on the much needed ditch work. The crew dismantled and rebuilt the picnic shelter at the gorgeous 39mm native Ohio prairie installed
by the crew previously. It was the first time the crew had installed a metal corrugated roof and it turned out great. Casey Marcum of ODNR assisted the crew with that project as well as several other projects.
Invasive species removal was a priority in 2025. Amur honeysuckle, autumn olive, russian olive, Johnson grass, poison hemlock, and burning
bushes all met their match. A new native Ohio plant research area near South Lebanon was cleared of all invasive species and a wide variety of native bushes and trees planted to evaluate how plants respond after honeysuckle is removed. Unfortunately, with
the state/national budget cuts, the scientist coordinating this effort was let go, but the native plants remain and we are curious on how the ecosystem responds.
Progress was made on designing a new and much large tool cache at Fosters. Multiple price quotes have been obtained, designs revised (several
times), site evaluations made, and commercial electric service evaluated. Commercial electric will not be part of the building as it would be prohibitively expensive to install. A solar power system is being developed and evaluated. A variety of new tools
were purchased (saws, blowers, etc.) and chainsaw training was conducted with two volunteers being certified and several other working their way through the process.
The crew focused this year on repairing and flattening the asphalt in-between Cones Road and Fosters. Slumping of the asphalt south of Fosters
was worked with truckloads of gravel being added to build up and re-flatten the riverside berm to reduce slumping, and then solid asphalt used to rebuild the slumped trail. When not working due to inclement weather, the crew now meets at local restaurants
for business and comradery without getting too Rowdy!.
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Trail Crews:
New Picnic Shelter
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by Jim Schneider
For the past year, ODNR has been requesting that FLMSP help to replace the shingles on the picnic shelter next to the prairie at mile marker 39.5 between Loveland and Fosters. Rick Forrester, the Thursday morning leader decided it was
finally time to get this project started.
Casey Marcum (ODNR) wanted the roof to match the other state park structures with a green metal roof. Rick headed to Menards for some installation guidance and purchased the materials. Rick’s maintenance volunteers had been dubbed Rick’s
Rowdies by FLMSP president
Becky Retzer at the annual volunteer picnic. About 10 of the Rowdies showed up on a September Thursday morning along with Casey who brought an ODNR truck to assist with the tear off and haul away of the old roofing and fascia boards. Using
the truck on one side of the shelter and scaffolding on the river side of the shelter, we were able to tear off old shingles and
attach the new metal roofing. Installing a new metal roof was a learning experience for all of us.
The metal framing got a fresh coat of green paint and the boards were all sanded to give the shelter a complete remodel. Bikers and walkers now have a nice place to sit and view the wild flowers of the prairie.
Some of the Rick’s Rowdies that day included: Grant Gilbert, Pat Klein Greg Melia, Don Hahn, Jim Schneider, Tom Agin, Richard Krzyminski, John Doscher and special appearance from Ron Gorley.
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Partway done. Putting on the new roof.
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Safe Trails:
The BIG THREE
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A well-known Swedish furniture store is known for providing assembly instructions using pictograms. In my eight years writing this column, I have shared safety tips covering numerous topics that apply to
our use of the Little Miami Scenic Trail, but none more important than the three depicted here. Before reading the descriptions below, see if you can figure out what safety tip each pictogram represents.
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1. Always wear a properly fitted helmet when engaged in wheeled activities.
2. Exercise extreme care when crossing roads. Wait until the coast is completely clear before proceeding.
3. Slow down when encountering others on the trail. Announce your presence by saying “passing on the left.” Expect the unexpected, especially around children and dogs.
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Support Friends of
the Little Miami State Park
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As the year 2025 draws to a close, we are once again reaching out to our community for support. Your generous donations have been the backbone
of our efforts to keep the Little Miami State Park a safe, welcoming, and beautiful space for all to enjoy. This year, your contributions have been vital in numerous projects many of which have been covered in editions of Trail Mail and we are excited to share
how your support continues to make a difference.
Trail Repavement and Improvements
Thanks to your designated donations, the bidding process for the trail repaving between Morrow and South Lebanon is active and we should have
updates for you in the next few months. The proposed repaving of the trail will enhance the safety and enjoyment for all visitors. Your contributions have directly funded these future improvements, ensuring a smoother, more accessible experience for cyclists,
walkers, and nature lovers alike.
Why Your Support Matters
As a 100% volunteer organization, every dollar you donate directly impacts the park and its community. We understand that there are many worthy
causes seeking your support, but we hope you will remember the Little Miami State Park—a sanctuary of natural beauty along the scenic river that remains free and accessible for all.
Your continued generosity will ensure that Little Miami State Park remains a haven of nature and tranquility for future generations to enjoy.
Thank you for considering a year-end gift to support our efforts. Together, we can make 2026 our best year yet!
Becky Retzer, President
Friends of the Little Miami State Park
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