News
Accomplishments
Tri-State Trails 2025 Annual Highlights
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 by Caitlin Sparks
Your Gift Goes Further This Year
Before we dive into the stories and milestones that defined 2025, we want to share a remarkable opportunity.
Thanks to a $70,000 matching gift, every donation made before year-end is matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact on the partnerships, planning, and coordination that support our regional trail and bikeway network.
Thank you to our generous match donors:
- Two Anonymous Donors
- Jim & Melissa Wilz
- Bob & Jeanne Coughlin
- Rick Michelman & Karen Meyer
- Tri-State Trails Board of Directors
A Year of Connection, Collaboration, and Milestones That Move Us Forward
At Tri-State Trails, we believe in the power of connection—connecting neighbors to opportunities, connecting partners to shared goals, and connecting people to the joy and belonging found on our trail network. This year, that belief came to life in ways big and small, visible and invisible, across neighborhoods, counties, and our entire region.
As we look back on 2025, we are filled with gratitude for everyone who joined us along the way. These moments matter because you were there, helping build a healthier, more connected future.
A Decade of Leadership & Regional Momentum
Reflections from Executive Director, Wade Johnston
2025 marked a meaningful milestone: 10 years of leadership from Executive Director Wade Johnston.
When Wade joined Tri-State Trails in 2015, much of our effort centered on proving that trail networks were a worthy investment. Today, the question is no longer why, but how soon communities can build them. Across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, demand for walking and biking infrastructure has never been stronger.
That shift is a testament to public support, and we see you at the heart of it.
“You are our public support. You show up, advocate, volunteer, and invest. You’ve elevated this movement to a whole new level.”
CROWN: A Once-in-a-Generation Trail Network Takes Shape
The Cincinnati Riding Or Walking Network (CROWN) is a 34-mile urban loop connecting the Little Miami Scenic Trail, Wasson Way, Ohio River Trail, and Mill Creek Greenway. Thanks to the $10 million CROWN Capital Campaign, led by Wym and Jan Portman and supported by many of you, local partners have secured more than $42.6 million in public funding ($58.6 million including Gilbert Avenue).
We are now down to just a half-mile gap in Mariemont to complete the original capital campaign vision.
2025 Milestones
Wasson Way Phase 6B Opens
A small but mighty 0.15-mile link across Montgomery Road into Xavier University, funded entirely by CROWN campaign dollars, opened this year. One of its standout features is the new signalized crossing, funded through the Metro Transit Infrastructure Fund (MTIF), created by the passage of Issue 7 in 2020.
It’s not just any crossing—it’s one of the most responsive crosswalks in Greater Cincinnati. Riders joked about it at our Annual Meeting because it’s so true: you tap the button, and it changes almost instantly. It’s a small detail that signals something big—a shift toward prioritizing people on foot and on bikes. It improves safety, yes, but it also helps reshape local culture, showing what’s possible when we design for trail users with intention.
Wasson Way: Building Trust, Safety, and Connection
This new segment brings Wasson Way closer to fully linking with Phase 6A, which runs from Woodburn Avenue to Blair Court in Avondale. Over the next year, as construction wraps up on Xavier University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, the trail will be extended from Station Way to Dana Avenue. At the same time, Cincinnati DOTE will reconfigure the intersection at Idlewild Avenue and install another signalized crosswalk—further strengthening safety and continuity along the corridor.
What we are most proud of in this series of projects is how clearly they deliver on a promise made nearly a decade ago to the neighborhoods of Evanston, Avondale, and Walnut Hills.
When we first came to these communities in 2016 to ask for their support, residents were receptive, but clear about their expectations. They wanted Wasson Way to be a safe experience. They asked for protected crossings, like the signal at Madison Road in Hyde Park. They asked for lighting so the trail could be used comfortably throughout the day and into the evening.
This stretch of Wasson Way is currently the only segment that features full trail lighting, which was officially turned on in April 2024—an important step in making the trail feel welcoming, reliable, and usable for everyone, at all times.
Wasson Way Phase 7 Breaks Ground Soon
Looking ahead, the City of Cincinnati will begin construction on Wasson Way Phase 7, extending the trail west from Blair Court to the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Reading Road. At the same time, the City is preparing to redesign Gilbert Avenue to provide a safe bikeway connection toward Downtown—creating a low-stress, approachable route along one of the city’s more manageable hills.
Mariemont Moves Forward
A new 0.2-mile connector opened in late 2024, and we funded landscaping in 2025. Only 0.4 miles remain unfunded, and we’re actively partnering with the Village to secure grants.
Landscaping for this segment is coming soon, thanks to the Town & Country Garden Club, the Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation, and the Louise Taft Semple Foundation.
Great Parks’ Columbia Connector begins construction next year, paving the way for a fully on-trail finish into Fifty West for the 2026 or 2027 Tour de CROWN.
Oasis Corridor Breakthrough
After two decades of advocacy, implementation is now in sight.
In 2025:
- City of Cincinnati secured $5M from ODOT to purchase the corridor
- Great Parks secured $6M from OKI for Phase 2 construction
- Cincinnati Parks received $1M from OKI to remove tracks and repave the riverfront segment
This progress will close the final gap in the 326-mile Ohio to Erie Trail in Southwest Ohio.
Mill Creek Greenway Momentum
As the eastern 24 miles of CROWN approach full build-out by 2030, we deepened our investment in completing the remaining 10 miles through the Mill Creek Valley.
Through Reimagining the Civic Commons, seven national learning journeys, and years of neighborhood engagement, we are strengthening partnerships with residents, CDCs, Mill Creek Alliance, the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and The Port. Together, we are positioning this corridor for transformative investment by remediating brownfields, reconnecting neighborhoods, and building a greenway that links residents directly to Uptown and Downtown.
Building Belonging Through Events
Highlights from Communications & Events Manager, Caitlin Sparks
Infrastructure builds the backbone of our network, but events and communications bring it to life. They turn trails into gathering places, introductions into friendships, and curiosity into advocacy. This year, thousands of neighbors found joy, confidence, and community through our events and stories.
Pop-Up Bike Shops: 110 Bikes Fixed, Countless Moments of Care
Our Pop-Up Bike Shop program, powered by MoBo Bicycle Co-op, Queen City Bike, the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Cincinnati, Cincy Red Bike, and dozens of volunteers, helped 110 neighbors tune up their bikes and regain confidence on wheels.
Highlights:
- Advanced mechanics teaching apprentices at each event
- Volunteers creating warm, welcoming spaces
- Thousands of dollars in repair costs saved for families
- A growing network of riders who feel supported and seen
Heartfelt thanks to Kat Rugger, Alexander Smith, and Anne Brant for attending all six events and leading with joy, curiosity, and generosity.
We’re planning at least six Pop-Up Bike Shops in 2026—stay tuned for dates and details.
Tour de CROWN: 700 Riders, 100 Volunteers, A Growing Community of Advocates
Our 3rd Annual Tour de CROWN was our biggest yet:
- Netted $69, 500 for Tri-State Trails
- 700 riders
- 100 volunteers
- New trail segments (Wasson Way 6A & 6B!)
- Three roving mechanics (Thanks, Reser Bicycle Outfitters!)
- Four rest stops
- Supportive pace groups
- And the legendary sweeps: Vincent Wilson and Volodymyr Golykov
Tour de CROWN is more than a bike ride; it’s experiential learning at its best. Riders get to feel the vision for the CROWN. They experience the joy and safety of protected, off-street trails, and then, when the trail ends, the very real difference when there’s no bike infrastructure at all.
Every year, riders have “aha” moments. They see how connected our region already is and how much work remains. By the end of the ride, we have hundreds of new advocates because they’ve lived the experience themselves.
If you’ve joined us since 2023, we hope you’ll be back on August 29, 2026—and bring a friend. And if this will be your first Tour de CROWN, we can’t wait to welcome you into the experience. Early-bird registration and volunteer sign-up launch in April.
Huge thanks to our 2025 sponsors—Great Parks, Fifty West Brewing Company, Columbia Township, Interact for Health, Reser Bicycle Outfitters, TrailHouse, Metro, Urban Sites, Deeper Roots Coffee, First Financial Bank, Greater Cincinnati Water Works, and the Village of Mariemont. We couldn’t welcome more riders each year without their support, and we’re grateful for their commitment to building a connected, welcoming trail network for all riders.
We’re already gearing up for an even bigger and better Tour de CROWN in 2026.
If you’re interested in sponsoring next year’s event, we’d love to connect.
Over 100 volunteers supported the event from the very start: marking the route the week before, welcoming riders at registration, setting up the Expo, directing people with friendly energy, and helping the morning run smoothly. Out on the course, rest-stop volunteers created little oases for riders, setting up tents, serving snacks, and offering encouragement.
Most of our 100 Tour de CROWN volunteers are experienced, caring ride guides and sweeps who practice the routes beforehand, troubleshoot challenges on the road, and look out for riders’ safety and comfort. They make it possible for this ride to truly be for everyone, all ages, all abilities, all backgrounds, all experience levels.
Save the date:
Tour de CROWN 2026 → August 29
Early registration launches in April.
Breakfast on the Bridge: A Bike Month Tradition
We celebrate National Bike Month all May, and on the third Friday of each May, we gather for National Bike to Anywhere Day—formerly Bike to Work Day. Because not everyone goes to work on Fridays, we say: go ahead and bike anywhere.
That morning, we welcome commuters, neighbors, and trail and bicycle enthusiasts on one of our most beloved connections—the Purple People Bridge—with smiles, conversation, coffee, and pastries. What began as a simple morning greeting has grown into a vibrant Bike Month tradition.
Each year, more local organizations and community groups join us on the bridge to connect with the growing morning crowd, and participation continues to rise. Rain or shine, it feels like a community reunion—a welcoming place to meet new people, discover a new organization, and celebrate Bike Month together.
We were thrilled to welcome new partners this year—Cincinnati Art Museum, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, The Bridge Adaptive, and the Poetry Cycle by Elese Daniel—alongside our long-standing partners and sponsors: Metro & TANK, Reser Bicycle Outfitters, Trailhead Coffee, NorthSouth Baking, The Ohio & Kentucky Bike Lawyers, Live Well Northern Kentucky, and SouthBank Partners.
Special thanks to NorthSouth Baking for donating beautiful, delicious pastries and to TrailHead Coffee for donating and delivering coffee by bike for hundreds of visitors. And, of course, we ended with our favorite tradition—the big group photo, bigger and more joyful every year.
Save the date for the 17th Annual Breakfast on the Bridge:
Friday, May 15, 2026 — 7–9 AM
Shaping the Region’s Future Through Planning
Highlights from Project Manager, Brad Bowers, AICP
Planning is where vision becomes possibility. Brad’s work ensures that communities across the tri-state are prepared with bold, well-coordinated trail plans that are ready for investment.
Mill Creek Triangle Trail Feasibility Study Completed
This 40-mile vision—spanning 17 local governments and eight community organizations—received unanimous adoption from partner jurisdictions. The plan includes six focus areas and a corridor-level funding strategy.
One of the boldest long-term opportunities involves ODOT: when the I-75 Lockland Split is consolidated, vacated northbound lanes could become a new trail corridor linking Lockland, Reading, Arlington Heights, and Cincinnati.
Forest Park’s Winton Road Trail Moves Forward
This project represents a major step forward for Forest Park—transforming a high-speed, high-traffic corridor into a safer, more accessible connection for students, families, and residents moving between schools, neighborhoods, parks, and local destinations. The plan also strengthens regional connectivity by improving U.S. Bike Route 25 and tying directly into Great Parks’ growing trail network.
Forest Park secured $1.2 million in construction funding to begin bringing this vision to life, and the City has already incorporated a shared-use path into an upcoming bridge replacement to ensure long-term continuity along the corridor.
Implementation is underway.
You can explore the full project materials on the project page here.
Northern Kentucky Regional Trails Plan
Partnering with CORA, Brad is guiding a visionary plan to create a braided trail network across three counties, blending paved and natural-surface trails.
The plan includes:
- 13 priority paved trail corridors
- 8 natural-surface trail focus areas
- Connections to NKU, AJ Jolly Park, Riverfront Commons, Licking River Greenway, CVG Loop, and more
This blueprint will guide Northern Kentucky’s trail development for years to come. You can explore the full project materials on the project page and dive deeper into the vision through the StoryMap.
Data That Drives the Movement Forward
Highlights from GIS Analyst & Planner, Rachel Culley
Rachel’s work ensures that decisions across our region are rooted in data, equity, and community needs.
Record-breaking Year for Funding
In 2025:
- OKI awarded $82M in active transportation funding
- Nearly $31M went to trail projects
- ODNR awarded nearly $3M through the Clean Ohio Trail Fund
A combined $34M in new trail funding is now shaping the next era of our region’s network.
New Miles, New Links
This year, we made meaningful strides together. Through collaborative planning, strong partnerships, and community leadership, we advanced projects that are transforming how people move throughout the region.
Across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana, communities delivered and advanced a remarkable lineup of multi-use paths and new bike lanes that strengthen the regional network:
2025 Multi-Use Path Progress
Boone County
- KY 236 Multi-Use Path from Mineola Pike to Houston
- KY 237 Phase II Multi-Use Path
Hamilton County
- Elstun Connector Phase I
- Wasson Way Phase 6B, extending one of our region’s most beloved trails
- Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail Phase I, the first step in a major north–south greenway connection
Warren County
- Mason-Morrow-Millgrove Trail Extension from Mason Sports Park to the Fawn Crossing Drive subdivision, adding new mileage to one of the region’s most popular long-distance routes
Dearborn County
- North Dearborn Community Park Trail, expanding access for rural communities and creating new local walking and biking opportunities
2025 On-Street Bikeway Enhancements
Hamilton County
- Montgomery Road Bike Lanes from Cypress Way to Ross Avenue, improving safety and connectivity for riders in a busy commercial corridor
Kenton County
- 4th Street Bike Lane from the 4th Street Bridge to Johnson Street, strengthening Covington’s downtown bike network and linking key destinations
Each of these projects represents years of planning, advocacy, design, and partnership — and together, they move us toward a region where safe, connected mobility options are the norm rather than the exception. The work continues, and momentum is on our side.
Trail Monitoring Across 180 Miles
Now in its ninth year, our monitoring program collected:
- 110 short-term counts
- 20 long-term counts
- Data from partners across nine counties
CROWN’s daily usage is nearly double the regional average, proof that when you build connected networks, people use them.
Trail-specific reports are available to our Trailblazer Members.
Low-Stress Bike Map: More Accessible Than Ever
We distributed 10,000+ copies of the 5th edition, now available in English, Spanish, and French. The French version has been especially meaningful for Mauritanian asylum seekers in Lockland, where local leaders like Vincent Wilson are helping neighbors access bikes and learn repair skills.
Mill Creek Greenway Community Engagement
Rachel led a major door-to-door survey effort across five West Side neighborhoods—hiring three local residents as surveyors who knocked on 575 doors and engaged more than 100 neighbors.
Early findings:
- 83% believe the Mill Creek Greenway will positively impact their neighborhood
More results will be shared in early 2026.
Looking Ahead: A Closing Reflection
As we close out this year of extraordinary progress, one truth stands out: this movement works because people believe in it.
Every mile built.
Every grant secured.
Every volunteer hour shared.
Every partnership strengthened.
This momentum is possible because of people like you.
Together, we are building a region where everyone can walk, bike, connect, and reach the places they love safely.
We can’t wait to see what we accomplish in 2026—together.
Closing the Year With Purpose — And a Final Chance to Double Your Gift
As we wrap up this year of growth, collaboration, and trailbuilding, we’re reminded that none of this work happens alone.
As of December 11, we’ve raised $17,553, with $52,447 left to go to unlock our full $70,000 match. When you donate before year-end, your gift is doubled, powering the next phase of planning, partnerships, trail construction, and community programming across the region.
Once again, we extend our deep gratitude to the donors who made this matching challenge possible:
- Two Anonymous Donors
- Jim & Melissa Wilz
- Bob & Jeanne Coughlin
- Rick Michelman & Karen Meyer
- Tri-State Trails Board of Directors
If the stories in this year’s Highlights inspired you, we hope you’ll take the next step and contribute.
Together, we can continue building the trail network that connects us all.
