| Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure Routes Announced in Middletown |
| Wednesday, May 7, 2003 12:34:32 PM - Middletown Ohio |
GREAT OHIO BICYCLE ADVENTURE ROUTES ANNOUNCED IN MIDDLETOWN
SMITH PARK TO CLOSE FOR 24 HOURS
Middletown area residents and businesses are given advance notice of plans surrounding the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) which will bring 3,000 bicyclists to Middletown for a 24 hour period June 19-20. Local organizers want to alert those who may be impacted by the large number of bicycles on the streets and the large number of people seeking food and entertainment.
Bike riders will begin arriving in Middletown mid-morning on June 19. They will be riding from Xenia and will enter Middletown on Manchester Road. At Manchester Park subdivision, riders will turn onto Autumn Drive, then Fielders Way, Stonepath, Kilkerry, Cambridge, Wicklow, Limerick, Riverview, Vannest, Manchester and left at Tytus to the main entrance at Smith Park.
Smith Park will be headquarters for the GOBA event and will be closed to vehicle traffic all day on June 19 and until about noon on June 20. Walkers will be allowed access, just no vehicles without the special GOBA pass. Many bicyclists will be camping at Smith Park over night. Other have made arrangements to stay in private homes, sleep on the gym floor at the YMCA or at the Tennis Club.
A shuttle bus system will move GOBA guests around town on two shuttle routes – one downtown and Central Avenue; the other to Towne Mall area businesses and restaurants.
While the 3,000 riders and guests are in town, there will be a Police K-9 Demonstration at Smith Park, a demonstration at Baker Bowl Skate Park and a Blues Fest concert at Bicentennial Commons. Many will also likely take advantage of swimming at Sunset Pool, email access at Middletown Public Library, a historic district walking tour, a downtown walking tour, visits to the Canal Museum and fishing in Smith Pond. The public is also invited to attend any of the special entertainment events during the GOBA event.
A few local non-profit organizations are planning to serve snacks and light lunch foods on site at Smith Park. Restaurants in the area are gearing up for a heavy early dinner hour.
When the riders begin the next leg of their 50 miles per day journey, they will leave via the rear of Smith Park, past Baker Bowl and Runway Road to Germantown Road where they will turn North.
For information about the GOBA arrangements, call Maria Langendorf, Parks and Recreation Department of City of Middletown at 513-425-7848.
Story Contributed By Ann Mort |
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