Geauga County Maple Leaf April 21, 2011 -

Trails through parks in Geauga County don't just appear.

They have to be hacked out of the undergrowth, built up with gravel to withstand foot traffic, landscaped to avoid erosion and maintained annually.

If horses are being ridden on bridle trails, branches have to be chopped higher, footing needs to be more solid and it all needs to be wide enough to accommodate horses passing hikers with dogs and children.

Dedicated trail riders understand and appreciate the 16 miles of trails in six of the Geauga Park District's open parks. No one is more supportive of the system than the local chapter of the Ohio Horseman's Council (OHC), which recently raised more than $6,500 in three months to help build more trails and defray the cost of maintaining those that already exist.

"I'm not 100 percent sure how the whole thing started," said Carol Donaldson, owner of Hunter's Creek Farm on Music Street and former member of the Geauga Park District Foundation. A member of the Chagrin Valley Trail Riders Club, she sees the parks and trails as vital for the preservation of wildlife and native flora as well as recreation for people and horses.

When the opportunity to open or maintain access for riders in the parks arose, she saddled up. The district had received a generous donation toward bridle trails and Donaldson wanted to make it go as far as possible for a long time.

"The first donation wasn't enough to open an account," she said, so she joined forces with a handful of other OHC members - Nora Stanton, Stella Gravelsek, Rocheele Garrett, Catherine Ullman, Rahcel Vanek, Joy Keco and Connie Rosborough to name a few -- to increase the seed money. They put articles in newsletters, made phone calls, got on Facebook and e-mailed everyone they could find in their address books.

"We reached a huge number of people," Donaldson said. "Donations started rolling in. Some came from unexpected areas."

Other chapters of the OHC, one from southern Ohio, chipped in and the word spread. An especially generous donor matched the first few thousand dollars raised, she said, giving the project a terrific boost.

"People are still talking about it," Donaldson said. "It's a wonderful way to start a trail fund."

OHC members are aware the district has been tightening its belt, buying fewer properties and concentrating on improving those it holds. By investing the funds in a Donor Designated Fund under the auspices of Geauga Park District Foundation, the 501c3 supporting organization of the park district, the Geauga County OHC is assured the money will be spent on building new bridle trails and maintaining old ones. The council hopes to add $1,000 a year to the fund, she added.

Many members of the local OHC aren't satisfied writing checks, Donaldson said, crediting Stanton and many volunteers with clearing trails with clippers and handsaws every year. They are very involved with the park district, she said, and the local OHC hopes to consult with the district on the use of the fund.

"The park district is very frugal in the way it spends money," Donaldson said. "They're not going to be dipping into the fund helter-skelter."

"We've worked with Geauga Park District for a long time to show our support - helping on the trails, planting trees, picking up garbage. We've always tried to be actively involved," said Geauga County OHC Interim President Rochelle Garrett. "Our plans are to schedule several things each year to raise more for this cause."

Tom Curtin, park district director, said he expects the district and the council will be working closely together to decide the best use of the funds. While it won't go too far in its present state, as it grows it will be more valuable, he said. Building a new trail costs about $80,000 a mile and maintaining an established trail costs about $2,500 a mile a year, he said.

There are some trails on private land where riding is permitted and furthering that partnership for trail riders is part of the district's long-term plan

Current bridle trails can be enjoyed, free of charge, at at The West Woods in Newbury and Russell townships, Headwaters Park in Huntsburg and Claridon townships, Beartown Lakes Reservation in Auburn and Bainbridge townships, Big Creek Park in Chardon Township, and Swine Creek Reservation in Middlefield and Parkman townships.

There are literally thousands of reasons to build and maintain trails throughout the state. In 2010, members of Geauga County's OHC rode 3,355.9 miles on Geauga Park District trails. Ohio ranks sixth in the country in the number of horses owned, nearly 307,000, according to the American Horse Council, a recent park district press release states.

Anyone interested in setting up a Donor Designated Fund with a $1,000 initial contribution or contributing to this one should contact development officer Emilie Gottsegen directly at (440) 279-0835.