The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 14

B-6 LOCAL AREA NEWS THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRERFriday, April 20, 1979 tittle Miami RR In Five Of Six Plans ODNR Considering Deerfield Gorge. "Extremely long" relocation of trails with portions outside the valley. "Not located near a major urban area." Plan F. Trains would run 14.4 miles from Morrow to CorwinWaynesville (28.8-mile roundtrip). Nine miles of county roads as alternates for hikingbiking trails, and including 2.4 miles of the Buckeye Trail.

Pro: Good, varied scenic route. Alternate trails remain in the valley. "Good user travel time for scenic railroad." Possible link to other train systems. Con: "Not very close to a major urban area." Warren explained how ODNR Judged whether a proposed train ride were too long, too short or just right: Operators of a similar Cuyahoga Valley line say tourists prefer rides lasting two or three hours. That works out to about 30 miles round-trip in the Little Miami Valley, when potential speed, stops and turnarounds are calculated, he said.

Would Plan using the roadbed for a biking path, make it impossible to use the roadbed later for a tourist train? "I guess that's what we're kicking around right now," Warren said. Popular response to buying the land for the recreation corridor generally is favorable, but it is "50-50" on resurrecting the railroad as a touristscenic facility. Plan C. The railroad would run 13.4 miles from Loveland to Morrow (26.8-mile roundtrip.) Otherwise resembles Plan B. Pro: "User travel time for railroad is good." So are crowd-handling facilities at both ends.

Otherwise, similar to Plan B. Con: Railroad route is located in not-very-scenic "large gravel pit area." Some trails would leave valley because of limited land. "Incompatibility with the railroad will shorten the length of the bridle trails." Plan D. Railroad runs 27.8 miles from Loveland to Corwin (55.6-mile roundtrip). County roads would be alternate hikebike trails for nine miles.

Buckeye Trail could be alternate for 2.4 miles. Pro: Urban proximity and link to other train systems. Con: "Excessive" time on the trains. "Extremely long" alternate trails sometimes leave river valley. "Greatly reduced" potential for bridle trails.

"Scenic railroad route travels through a large gravel pit area." Plan E. Trains run 21.2-miles from Deerfield Gorge to CorwinWaynesville (42.2-mile roundtrip). Nine miles of county roads would serve as alternate trails as could 2.5 miles of the Buckeye Trail. Pro: "Railroad route very scenic except for gravel pit area." Con: "Excessive" time on the train. Limited space for crowds and parking at plans, a distillation of more than 40 alternatives which have come up over the months, are: Plan A.

Forty-three miles of hiking and, bicycling trails using only 7.3 miles of county roads from Mathers Mill to Corwin. Common hikebike paths where the valley is too narrow or steep for separate trails. Pro: Trails will continuous within the valley. The old roadbed would be an "ideal" base for a paved cycling trail. Minimal environmental Impact.

Bridle trails can be developed where there is enough room to separate them from other trails. No need to buy more land or easements. Con: "There will be no scenic railroad route." Plan B. A 6.6-mile railroad would jun from Loveland to Deerfield Gorge (13.2-mile roundtrip.) Easements or land purchases would be necessary for some of 2.8 miles pf alternate trails because critical riverside areas could not stand heavy traffic. Pro: "High scenic quality throughout this section of the railroad." Link to other train systems exists at Middletown.

Alternate trails could remain in valley. Proximity to urban area. Con: "User time too short for the scenic railroad route." Limited space and facilities for handling parking and crowds at Deer-field Gorge. Little exposure to other points of interest. the year's end by an outside consultant yet to be hired.

Plans involve hobbyists who want to equip and run the railroad which the state would build on the old roadbed and own. Penn Central already has removed most of the old ties and rails as part of the proposed deal. Of the five ODNR alternatives involving a scenic railroad along the Little Miami River, the department's most highly rated runs trains 6.6 miles from Loveland to Deer-field Gorge near Kings Mill and back to Loveland. Negotiations will resume any day now between ODNR and Penn Central Corp. for what the firm calls the "old Branch" right of way over which trains stopped running years ago.

Penn Central which wants more than $1 million for the narrow strip. ODNR's opening bid was slightly more than $400,000. WARREN'S STAFF prepared the six plans. They are described briefly in an ODNR document. Little Miami River Corridor Preltninary Alternate Plans.

An accompanying map describes the area's strengths and distractions as seen by ODNR's personnel. Warren stressed the document is nothing more than a "quick study," and its alternatives are not engraved in stone. The By BEN L. KAUFMAN Enquirer Reporter A new.Little Miami tourist railroad, on which so many hopes rest, is included in five of six Ohio Department of Natural Resources' (ODNR) development plans for the area. One proposal rejects the railroad in favor of long, continuous hiking and biking trails.

Wayne Warren, administrator of planning section, said Thursday the Agency "really has no preference on any for the proposed recreation corridor on abandoned property the state is trying to Uoti than 43 miles long, the Little Miami Railroad right of way runs north from the south edge of Kroger Hills Park in eastern Hamilton County north to Roxan-na just across the Greene County line. ODNR executives long have said their top' priority is getting the land for hiking, biking and bridle trails, as well as fishing and canoeing access sites. Resurrecting the railroad for tourist use is only frosting on the cake, ODNR officials say. NO DECISIONS will be made until a rail feasibility study is done for ODNR, Warrren said. That report is to be.completed before Report Hints At Sites For Little Miami Valley Scenic Railroad fore the right of way can accommodate a railroad and hike-bike trail with minimal difficulty." Foster South Lebanon: "This stretch of track is exceptionally scenic.

A steep treed hillside domi- nates the east side of the tracks and river can be seen to the west. Selective clearing could improve the views to the river and provide rest areas for trail users." South LebanonMorrow: "Gravel pits dominate this stretch of track with both visual and audio distractions. There are some criti-callly narrow areas that could not accommodate both railroad and trails." Morrow Mathers Mill: "This stretch of track is one of the most scenic. A heavily treed hillside dominates to the east with occasional glimpses ofthe river to the west. Selective clearing along the river banks would provide views and vistas and rest areas for hikers.

This stretch is very narrow in places and could not accommodate both a railroad and the hike-bike trail." Mathers MillCorwin: "The views along this portion of the railroad are more open than along most of the other stretches. Because most of this stretch shares the right of way with a county road, it is clearer of vegetation. Private homes, a limited amount of farming and treed hillsides are In view from the railroad. The river is farther away BY BEN L. KAUFMAN Enquirer Reporter Virtues and vices of the Little Miami Valley, as seen by Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) officials considering building a scenic railroad along the river, give a hint where the line might go.

Comments on "existing conditions" accompany a map of the river and the parallel right-of-way which ODNR is trying to buy from Penn Central Corp. ODNR officials studied the valley from Kroger Hills Park in Eastern Hamilton County to Greene County as part of their planning for a multipurpose public reereation corridor on the right of way. ODNR's map includes the proposed railroad, service roads, the Little Miami Scenic Bikeway, existing railroad lines, the Buckeye Trail, critically narrow areas and river access points. The new map divided the affected valley Into five zones. Kroger HillsFoster: "The heavily vegetated right of way along this stretch creates a tunnel effect, with only an occasional view or a nearby hillside.

Desirable views and vistas and rest areas could be created with some selective clearing. Gravel pits in some areas create visual and audio Intrusions. Trash and Junk are visible in some areas. A 10-foot gravel service road extends along the entire stretch and there and less visible in this area. Th stretch provides a unique et scenir experience f6r the tral ustr.

county road offers good potential for a bikeway." Roxanna, Just north of the GreeneWarren County Line, is the northern terminal of the right of way, but hone of ODNR's current, tentative plans for trains beyond Corwin. ODNR also noted other features along the right of way. Kroger Hills Park: "Good land base for staging area, picnicking, parking, playgrounds, river access site." (A staging area is one which can accommodate crowds using the proposed recreation corridor, their cars, and other facilities crowds require.) Loveland: "Good potential for staging point. Linkup point with existing, operable rail system." Glenn Island near Foster: "Located on west side of river. No potential as major staging point.

River access point, parking, picnicking, primitive camping in future." Peter's Cartridge Factory at Kings Mill: "Structure of historical significance consists of large complex of old factory buildings. Could serve as major staging point but will require major modifications for parking area." Middletown Junction: "Linkup point with other existing railroad N'd a'hough It is not in use or being RiainUrned." Scuih Lebanon: "City located on west side of river. Minimal potential as staging point. Would require major modifications." Morrow: "Good potential for major staging area. Railroad turntable exists but is buried.

Additional parking may be required if used as major staging point. Existing, usable railroad depot." Ft. Ancient: "No potential for major staging point. Point of great historical significance. River access point, picnicking." Mathers Mill: "No potential for major staging point.

River access point. (ODNR) preserve manager and maintenance barn, located here." Corwin: "Good potential for staging point. Additional parking would be required if used as major staging point." Roxanna: "Offers potential link up point for scenic railroad with remaining rail system to the north." Access points noted on the map include Kroger Hills Park, Lake Isabella, Glen 'Island, Deerfield Gorge at Kings Mill, Morrow, Ft. Ancient, Mathers Mill, Oregonia Park, Caesar Creek and CorwinWaynesville. Areas so narrow they will give planners problems include Deerfield Gorge upriver to South Lebanon and two stretches between Morrow and Ft.

Ancient. Caesars CreekC' I-- 7 'VP begonia r- Mathers Millsrj 'y J. 1. i Morrow South lebanonrPr." MiddletowilunctionvU -y7 1TJ Yy 2 Iwjjartridge Factory -1 -1 1 t-7 I Foster y. i' loveland 0 J-l -y -i Vv f- Terrace ParkoSA Scenic Railway Advocates Call State Plans Faulty By BEN L.

KAUFMAN Enquirer Reporter State proposals for developing the Little Miami Valley as a recreation corridor are faulty, longtime advocates of the project Judged Thursday. William Sprague, president of Railway Exposition focused on Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) proposals for a scenic railroad once an abandoned right-of-way along the river becomes state property. He rejected the plan excluding a new train line and said ODNR estimates of an ideal ride, in the five alternatives involving a resurrected Little Miami Railroad, are wrong. Tom Beehan, executive director of Little Miami Inc. (LMI), a conservation group, criticized ODNR for leaving out too many facilities in the valley and said more criteria should have been used in ranking ODNR's various proposals.

He shared Sprague's disappointment that ODNR still is considering dropping the Idea of scenic railway and said, "We're for a railroad. That's for sure." The six "preliminary alternate plans" are described in a brief ODNR memo. Wayne Warren, ODNR's top planner, elaborated on the plans Thursday in Interview. Sprague responded to questions based on the plans, drafted by Warren's staff, and Warren's When Warren says two to three hours for a scenic train ride is right, It is asking too much of most visitors and offering railroad enthusiasts too little, Sprague said. An ''optimum round trip with a stop is an hour, maybe an hour and a half." That could be 20 miles, given speeds likely along the river, he explained.

Told ODNR planners assumed a 10 mph average on any Little Miami scenic railroad, Sprague responded, "You not necessarily limited to 10 mph, you could go anywhere between 10 and 20 probably." Trip frequency is a key to profit, he said; "It's got to be a paying proposition." A lot of regular, short trips for casual tourists and an occasional day-long "Daisy-Picker Special for honest-to-goodness railway enthusiasts" Is the schedule he'd like to run. Sprague and his colleagues want to equip and run the Little Miami scenic railroad if the state will lay the ties and track along the roadbed left by Penn Central Corp. ODNR is trying to buy the land now. "If they'll put the rail there and leave us alone, we'll be able to support the maintenance of the track and our equipment," Sprague said. Tickets at similar lines elsewhere cost $2.50 to $10 each, he said.

"We'd like to work out a plan at. so much per person and have a family maximum." Sprague bemoaned the absence of communication between ODNR and Railway Exposition Co. He attributes it to ODNR sensitivity to charges state officials have been tod cozy with concessionaires at state parks. "ODNR has gotten all kinds of heat on state parks They really are not talking to us at all." If all goes well, Railway Exposition will become a concessionaire, and Sprague understands ODNR's caution today. If ODNR is talking to other knowledgable railroaders, and comes up with a reasonable package, that's fine, Sprague His fear, however, is ODNR will opt for a railroad and adopt criteria with exclude Railway Exposition.

Railway Exposition members'expect to start hauling passengers on the 25-mile Brookville line in Indiana this summer, using a 12-mile round-trip between Brookville end Cedar Grove, he said. If all goes well in Indiana, the hobbyists' steam engine and much smaller diesel engine would be available for the Little Miami scenic line, he continued. Elaborating on his criticisms, LMI's Beehan" said he could not understand whyODNRdls-missed Caesar's Creek and Halls Creek in their six alternatives. Enquirer map BY GEORGE LONGFELLOW RIVER'S COURSE: Officials of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources analyzed the existing conditions of the Little Miami Valley and gave a hint of where a scenic railroad might go. They divided the valley into five zones, which are defined in accompanying story.

Franklin Board Picks Court Route To. Block Bluegrass Music Festival two deputies at the same time, one of them has to be on overtime. "Even with help from the state police, we Just are not equipped to handle events of that size," Helms said. "If you were to cut loose with a riot up there, we would be done forvi They'd sack the town of Laurel," he said. Minnielli's Fairfield building was in the news March 14 with the recovery of $100,000 of allegedly stolen construction materials found by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Minnielli is listed as the owner, but the warehouse has been subleased to Moon Park, Fairfield, owner of Tedla a chemical-recycling firm. "Right now, we will go for an injunction specifically against the scheduled bluegrass thing, since that is a clear violation of the zoning," Douglass said. McMlllin and Minnlelll could not be reached for comment Thursday. Franklin County Sheriff Donald Helms agreed with the residents that lawlessness has abounded at the gatherings at the park. Last weekend, Helms said, his department arrested 19 persons on a variety of charges at Haspin Acres.

The sheriff is legally able to keep 16 prisoners in the county jail, he said. CLOGGED ROADS leading to the park made it difficult to get from Brookville to the park, Helms said. Two funerals last weekend in Laurel needed police escorts to get through the crowds. "We've only got a four-man department counting myself," Helms said. "That means if you ever see festival has been advertised.

Mich-ael Douglass, attorney for the Franklin County Area Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, said he will seek an injunction in Franklin Circuit Court to block the event. "I imagine that since he (Minnlelll) has already said he won't hold any more activities, he will say the same thing In court. But at least this way the injunction would make him agree to it in court, so he would be bound to cancel it," Douglass said. He said he probably would file for an injunction Monday. THE ZONING appeals board and the planning commission, which have authorized Douglass to file for the injunction, probably have no authority to close the park completely, he said.

"As long as they stick to the provisions laid out in the original zoning exception, there probably is nothing that can be done to close it down, sort of trying to condemn the property and I think the court might not go along with that," he told the crowd Wednesday. 1: ever, have said Minnlelll has continuously staged events that go well beyond the activities permitted by the zoning exception. The resulting noise, litter, crowding and disorderly conduct of last weekend's four-wheel rally drove about 100 residents to the Board of Zoning Appeals Wednesday night to demand the park be closed down. Minnlelll had asked the board to extend his exception to Include the four-wheel-drive vehicles and concerts. His attorney, Lowell McMlllin, Wednesday withdrew the request.

He said Mlnielll wanted a chance to review all the criticism. McMlllin also said his client would suspend all public events at the park until the problems are solved. The May 11, 12 and 13 bluegrass dirt-bike races, and public camping, but Laurel residents said Wednesday that Minnlelll has staged other activities, Including concerts, nighttime racing and, this past weekend, a four-wheel-drive rally that local officials estimate drew 8000 participants. In Fairfield, Ohio, Minnlelll owned Haspin Showcase, an indoor motorbike race track in a warehouse at the rear of the large General Motors Fisher Body plant, just off Ohio 4 on Symme8 Road. Haspin Acres was granted a zoning exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals in 1073, which allowed for the operation of motorcycle and dirt-bike races and public camping on the property.

RESIDENTS OF the area, how by'pavid wells Indiana Bureau Chief BROOKVILLE, attorney for the Franklin County Area Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals said Thursday he will to halt a Bluegrass music festival next month at Haspin Acres recreational park. Haapln Acres, owned by William Minnlelll of Fairfield, Ohio, was the subject of complaints Wednesday nlgttt to residents of the town of Jpsjdents said patrons at the 150-mcre park on the outskirts of Laurel been unruly, noisy and have damaged public and private property. The county has zoned the property to allow motorcycle and i No charges were filed, but an FBI spokesman indicated the investiga- tion is continuing. In March, 1978, Tedia's previous building, located on Arndt Drive in Fairfield and also owned by Minn-Ta ielli, was destroyed by a chemical -i explosion and fire..