The Butler County Commissioners and Butler County Administrator Judi Boyko were honored as the Great Miami Riverway Corridor Champions of the Year on April 14. Great Miami Riverway Director Dan Foley and MetroParks' Executive Director Jackie O'Connell presented Commission President T.C. Rogers with the award at the Great Miami Riverway Summit in Sidney.

In 2022, the Butler County Commissioners allocated $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to MetroParks to help connect the cities of Middletown and Hamilton via the Great Miami River Trail (GMRT). Butler County is home to the only remaining GMRT gaps between Fairfield and Piqua. Once the remaining gaps are complete, the trail will stretch nearly 90 contiguous miles and will fuel community connectivity and economic growth regionally.

Ms. O'Connell said at the summit "The (Commissioners) financial support and commitment to the trail is important for several reasons. The economic value of connecting the two communities in their downtown cores will lead to additional development in both cities-including more housing, restaurants and retail." She added "Additionally, the more miles of connected paved trails we add, the stronger it makes our entire region. Every mile of trail makes previous trail investments more valuable." A study by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission estimated that the GMRT has a $13 million annual economic impact to the region. 

For more information about MetroParks' ARPA award and additional GMRT projects, click here.

Thank you to the Butler County Commissioners and all MetroParks' trail advocates for their help with this important project.