New Trek Bike raffle benefits local trail development
The ZTAP Bike Raffle is made possible in part by Ernie’s of New Philadelphia. The winner of the bike will have the option to exchange it for a bike of equal or lesser value that is suited to his/her size.
Zeisberger Trail and Parks is giving away a Trek bike in an effort to raise funds for local trail development in the region. The long-term goal of the group is to eventually have trails that connect Gnadenhutten, Goshen, Port Washington and Tuscarawas.
The bike is provided by Ernie’s of New Philadelphia. The winner of the bike will have the option to exchange it for a bike of equal or lesser value that is suited to his/her size.
ZTAP works closely alongside the Tuscarawas County Commissioners, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and other area nonprofits to improve and increase trails and parks in the region.
“I’m an avid bike rider,” said Joe Krocker, president of ZTAP, “so I chose a bike I would want to have if I could afford it.”
Krocker said the idea for the bike raffle came about last year, and the group was able to raise $800 for trail development in the region. “It was a successful fundraiser for us,” Krocker said. “We decided it would be a great thing to do again. It provides needed funds for our projects, and someone in the community gets a great bike.”
One such endeavor is the 416 Bike Lane Project that ZTAP and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition are working on under the direction of the Tuscarawas County Commissioners.
The Ohio Department of Transportation returned tax dollars to the region by awarding more than $1.4 million in 2017 to the county to be used to construct a 3-mile section of bike lanes on both sides of state Route 416 that ODOT would build and maintain.
Five-percent matching funds or about $76,000 needs to be provided through local fundraising.
The project, when finished in 2020, will connect Schoenbrunn and Trumpet in the Land with the grave of Moravian missionary David Zeisberger in Goshen, the village of Tuscarawas, the village of Gnadenhutten and its museum.
“We have come up with $10,000, and the village of Tuscarawas has committed an additional $10,000,” Krocker said.
Local funding for the ambitious project must be in place by late 2019.
“We’re a small group,” Krocker said, “but we are mighty. We have been working on projects in the region since 2008. We have some very passionate volunteers, and we somehow manage to get things done.”
Krocker said further development in the region that the commissioners and organizations like ZTAP are working on include trail development along East High Avenue in New Philadelphia that will connect Kent State University at Tuscarawas, Buckeye Career Center, the Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts and downtown New Philadelphia.
You can buy tickets for the bike raffle at Charmed: Gifts with Meaning at 117 W. High Ave., New Philadelphia; Ernie’s Bike Shop at 1103 Fourth St. NW, New Philadelphia; and Village Hall at 522 E. Cherry St., Tuscarawas.
Tickets also are available from ZTAP members, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition in Akron
and at ZTAP’s tent at the Tusky Days Festival coming up Thursday, June 14 through Saturday, June 16 in the village. Call 330-987-9021 for more information.
Donations designated for local projects can be sent to Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition –Zeisberger Trail and Parks, 47 W. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44308.
To learn more about ZTAP, visit www.ztap.org and find them on Facebook.
More information about the county’s park department is at www.co.tuscarawas.oh.us/Park/index2.htm.