Multiple trails, parking lots at Blackhand Gorge to close during trail construction
Multiple trails and parking lots at Blackhand Gorge Nature Preserve will close next month before crews repair a multiuse trail in the area , the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday.
Four trails and three parking lots at the preserve will close starting Nov. 18 for trail construction. Crews at that time will begin repairing a 4-mile, paved multiuse trail that contains three eroded sites.
The project is estimated for completion before November 2025. The paved trail will be closed until then, as will the preserve's Quarry Rim, Buttonbush Swamp and Chestnut trails.
The Marie Hickey and Canal Locks trails will remain open during construction, though pets are prohibited on those routes.
Crews will also close trailhead parking lots at Toboso, Brownsville and Brushy Fork roads until next year.
"The Ohio Department of Natural Resources understands the impact this can have on a beloved state nature preserve and appreciates the public's patience during construction," the agency stated in a news release. "These needed construction projects will improve overall safety and visitor experience to be enjoyed for years to come."
Ohio Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, announced Monday that the Ohio Controlling Board approved funding more than $4 million toward improving the multiuse trail. Riverbank erosion and landslides have destabilized the trail in three areas, so crews will construct embankments and a steel-reinforced concrete wall to repair the sites.
"Blackhand Gorge is a beautiful gem in Licking County with a rich history," Schaffer said in a news release. "This investment will ensure this amazing place stays accessible to residents and visitors for years to come."
The department manages the preserve, which spans 957 acres and is about 12 miles east of Newark. The state designated the gorge a nature preserve in 1975.
The Newark-based company ADR and Associates designed the trail improvements, President Nick Mill told The Advocate.
Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com .
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Blackhand Gorge to close multiple trails, lots for trail repairs
