Intern’s feasibility study finds side-by-side trail could boost tourism around Crown City strip mines

Brady Medinger, a summer intern in the Lawrence County commissioners' office, presented a feasibility study Aug. 5 examining whether a side-by-side off-road vehicle trail at the Crown City strip mines could become a regional outdoor recreation draw.

Medinger told commissioners the land is managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and that his study looked at trail construction costs, permitting, environmental impacts and economic forecasts. He estimated that a local rider (within about a one-hour drive) could spend up to $700 over a weekend on fuel, food and supplies, while a nonlocal rider (driving two to five hours) could spend about $1,400 over a weekend. Medinger said that “if just a few thousand riders visit each year, this could bring millions of dollars into nearby towns and into our county.”

Medinger compared potential benefits to established regional systems, citing the Hatfield-McCoy trail network in West Virginia as an example of how trails can support hotels, restaurants and related businesses. He recommended further study of permitting requirements, environmental safeguards and partnerships with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to develop a legally and environmentally safe trail network.

Commissioners thanked Medinger for the report and noted the county’s previous recreation events that drew families and local interest. The meeting record does not show any formal action or funding commitment tied to the study; commissioners indicated the material would serve as a foundation for future planning.