History and Funding

The Simon Kenton Pathfinders were created in July of 1997 to explore the development of a shared-use trail in Champaign County. Interest has grown from the original 17 members to 350 dues paying members as of March 2007. Our route follows the unused Erie-Lackawanna railway from County Line Road north to East Lawn Avenue, and then turns south along East Lawn Avenue, then east on Children's Home Road, then south through Melvin Miller City Park, connecting to the Champaign County Library, and the YMCA. We partnered with Clark County to continue the Simon Kenton Trail to make the connection to the Buck Creek Trail already developed in the City of Springfield; this trail makes the connection to the Little Miami Scenic Trail in Greene County which connects the entire route to the Ohio to Erie Trail. The Ohio to Erie Trail is a trail being developed from the Ohio River to Lake Erie.

The Champaign County Commissioners have given official support for this project. We collaborated with the Commissioners to apply for a Transportation Enhancement Activity grant, which we received on April 20, 1999 for $272,397.00 for the construction part of Phase 1. We raised the funds required to meet the 20% match and purchased the land with private donations and fund raisers. The land was transferred from the West Central Ohio Port Authority to the Commissioners on July 18, 2000 the funds to pay for this land were raised by the SK Pathfinders. Engineering and design that would have had to been paid for by the Pathfinders were donated. Phase 2 was a partnership between Clark County Commissioners, National Trails Park and Recreation District, City of Springfield, West Central Ohio Port Authority, Clark County Transportation Coordinating Committee, with the Champaign County Commissioners as the lead governmental agency for all funds. The funding that was received for Phase 2 was the 2nd largest in the State of Ohio. The Pathfinders raised the funds for the match of 25% for the grant for Champaign Counties portion of the trail, (Woodburn road to County Line road). No County or City funds have been used to construct the trail. The section through the City of Urbana received an earmark of funds by Congressman David Hobson when he was our Congressional Representative in the amount of $1.1 million. This grant along with another grant from Ohio Department of Natural Resources of $250.000.00 have made the connection of the trail and box culvert possible for the 6.5 miles of trail in the City of Urbana.

In July 2003 the Simon Kenton Pathfinders purchased the old Pennsylvania Railroad Station, 644 Miami Street, for the sole purpose to restore and update the rest rooms for trail users and the community. In order to apply for the funds to update the building, the building had to be owned by a government agent. In March of 2005 we sold the building to the City of Urbana. The City received funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation in March 2005 of $544,000.00 to restore and repair the outside of the building, put in new restrooms and new street lights, landscaping and sidewalks. In December 2006 the City of Urbana leased the Urbana Station back to the Simon Kenton Pathfinders. April 15, 2007 the depot was officially opened to the public for a rest area and rest room facilities.

The hours are;
Saturday - Thursday 7:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 7:00am -12:00pm

The SKP has leased the space to a local owned coffeehouse that is operated by the Oelker family, the hours that they are open are the same as above.

In July 2007 the SKP installed bike lockers on the grounds at the depot on Miami Street. They will be leased to individuals for a period of one year at a time.

The SKP have joined forces with the Champaign County Preservation Alliance, the Champaign County Historical Society, and the Simon Kenton Historical Corridor to identify historical sites along the path and in the City of Urbana. Historical markers will be placed along the route. These historical markers will honor the railroads and historic sites that are part of our rich history and have served the City of Urbana and Champaign County. Two old railroad cars have been donated and are being restored by several organizations and students and will be used as informational centers and rest stops along the trail.

ALL money that is raised by the SKP goes back into the fund to help with maintenance of the trail and to create the endowment for future development. We are a total volunteer organization and a 501© 3.

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