Huron County Community Foundation 2023 Annual Report

GRANTEE SPOTL IGHT Paving the Way for Firelands Rails to Trails Founded in 2000, Firelands Rails to Trails, Inc. is an all-volunteer, non-profit group dedicated to the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the North Coast Inland Trail (NCIT) in Huron County. The NCIT is a 103.5-mile recreational trail extending from Lorain to Toledo. It is the 10th longest non-motorized rail trail in the United States. What they do: With a membership of nearly 200-strong, Firelands Rails to Trails, Inc. (FRTTI) takes great pride in ensuring visitors to the trail enjoy a safe and scenic view of approximately 23 miles situated in Huron County, Ohio—a stretch that connects Wakeman, Collins, Norwalk, Monroeville, and Bellevue. Support of the tree-lined trail includes: • Hosting regular cleanup days. • Installing andmaintaining on-site amenities and signage. • Managing a volunteer trail patrol. The trail is free for public use and open year-round from dawn to dusk, a’racting walkers, joggers, cyclists, and horseback riders from across the county and beyond. HowHuronCountyCommunity Foundation helped: Thanks to a $10,000 grant fromHuron County Community Foundation, Firelands Rails to Trails invested in the overall safety of its recreational spaces by paving parts of the trail and a portion of the parking lot between Monroeville’s 1863 Depot and Ridgefield Township. Why FRTTI is such a valuable community asset: President of Firelands Rails to Trails JoshuaWyrick first learned of the non-profit ašer regularly walking on the trails. “I signed up for aWork Day to help with things like cu’ing trees and clearing brush and quickly realized how much they rely on volunteers for everything they do.” Josh became a member in 2012, joined the board of trustees in 2014, and was elected president in 2019. He emphasizes that they’re an independent entity, and no local tax levy supports the trail in Huron County. “Thanks to the generous support we receive from individual donations and grants, Huron County residents are provided easy access to this historic trailway and beautifully maintained recreational space.” FUN FACTS The trailway ismade upof crushed limestone and sits on anoriginal railroad beddating back to the 19th century. Features include: TheMonroeville 1863Depot, which served twoUnionArmy basic training camps during theCivilWar, one infantry and one cavalry. Fully restored by Firelands Rails toTrails, it’s nowused for thenon-profit’s headquarters anda railroad interpretive center. Twohistoric double arch bridgesmade of stone (Wakeman andNorwalk). Two additional major rail tres- tlesmade of steel and stone. Six lesser culverts andminor bridges crossing smaller waterways. Sixtrailheadsspreadacrossthe lengthofthetrailwithparking foranaggregateof90vehicles. These areonor nearmajor roadways: six state routes, two federal highways, and 16 county and township roads. All aremaintained by Firelands Rails to Trails volunteers and hired contractors if needed.