GAMBIER — Kokosing Gap Trail’s nearly 20-year-old flatcar received new decking thanks to the help of Kenyon College’s skilled trade unions.
Kokosing Gap Trail, consisting of 17 board members, has been a nonprofit organization since 1988.
The president and vice president of union UE-712 initiated the project, Kokosing Gap Trail President Randy Cronk said.
According to Cronk, the union members were looking for a community service project, and given that the Kenyon facilities were adjacent to the KGT railroad cars in Gambier, they were aware of the dire need for repairs to be made on the flatcar, as well as how popular the train cars are for KGT visitors and users.
The project took two days to complete, broken into two weekends with 12 volunteers heading the course, Cronk said.
“The initial weekend morning was used to remove the old deck, inspect the car, and make a final list of materials and plans,” he said. “The materials were secured and the following weekend volunteers installed the new deck.”
The original decking was at least 20 years old and in need of replacement. Additionally, the cost of the project totaling $3,000 was funded via Gambier’s Steering Committee, the gap trail’s president said.
“Knox County is beginning to see an economic impact of the KGT as the Ohio to Erie Trails grow in popularity,” Cronk said. “During the prime cycling months of spring, summer, and fall, many cyclist visit our hotels and restaurants.
“I know for a fact there are some nights when there are over 40 cyclists staying in Mount Vernon for the night,” he added. “And, Mount Vernon has become a very popular destination for citizens of Holmes County.”
The committees’s next project is scheduled to begin next week, Cronk said, backdropped behind the severe storm that struck Knox County in June.
The storm brought a tree down on the observation deck attached to the trestle bridge on the gap trail near Gambier, Cronk added.
“The deck is beyond repair, so the damaged deck will be removed and a new deck overlooking the Kokosing River will be built,” he said.
