Hamilton, OH- MetroParks of Butler County is excited to announce that the Miami 2 Miami Trail at Gilmore MetroPark was selected for a 2023 Trails & Corridors Award by the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. The awards will be presented in Libertyville, Illinois on June 20.

The new 1.5-mile paved-trail segment is one of the first steps in connecting two of the region’s longest paved trails, the Little Miami Scenic Trail (78 miles) and the Great Miami River Trail (86 miles), across Butler and Warren Counties.

The trail was designed and planned as a partnered project with regional trail advocacy group Tri-State Trails, the City of Hamilton, the Butler County Engineer’s Office, MetroParks and more. Several grants were awarded to the collaborators to complete the trail. Contributions from Transportation Alternatives, Clean Ohio Trails and State Capital grants helped complete the $2.3 million project.

“MetroParks is very pleased with the benefits this partnership brings to the region,” said MetroParks of Butler County Executive Director, Jackie O’Connell. “With over $50 million in new light industry and 1,000 new jobs planned for the area, the trail provides another option for commuting and recreation. As the Miami 2 Miami Trail grows, so do the opportunities for residents.”

The extension connects three miles of existing paved trail and makes Gilmore MetroPark’s wetland and historic ice ponds more accessible than ever. Visitors can see egrets, herons, eagles and other wetland inhabitants like beavers and turtles. The park is now more user-friendly to families with strollers and people with different mobile abilities. 

For more information about the Miami 2 Miami Trail, click here.