A Tuesday dedication marked a two-mile expansion of outdoor activity at the Kent State University at Tuscarawas campus.
Director of Philanthropy Chad Conrad explains that the trail has been developed in three stages.
“One that was recently completed was across from University Drive, near the Tech Park. Just behind the Science Advanced Technology Building we have a dedication rock, sort of where the actual trail started.”
Jim Demuth is a current member of the board and was instrumental in the project’s completion by donating labor and almost all materials.
The newest segment is across University Drive near the Tech Park, and Conrad adds that the trail will be dedicated to honor a 50 year member of the Tuscarawas County University Foundation board of directors.
“In honor of John Richard Demuth, he was Jim’s father, who was a charter member of our university foundation, which was founded in 1968, so really dedicating this to his father and the entire family for his work for almost 50 years on the foundation board.”
With the winding trail across campus and beyond, Dean Dr. Brad Bielski notes it gives users a different aspect of the college.
“I think it is good for our community in multiple ways but it’s also good for the campus as well. We have over 180 acres of actual land here, and some of it is used for farming and for education but we’re always looking for ways to use our land and this is one I think that people will use and do use regularly.”
The ultimate goal is to tie this trail into the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, who announced plans to locate in the Tech Park area.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2024