7.3 RECOMMENDATION 2 EXPAND THE HERITAGE TRAIL PARTNERS TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE SEEOHIOFIRST.ORG HERITAGE TRAIL Description The virtual Heritage Trail included a number of communities who were not active canal partners in this project. However, these communities are critical to telling the story of the Southern Descent: Buckeye Lake Park/Millersport, Carroll, and Lancaster (Fairfield County); Canal Winchester (Franklin County); Chillicothe (Ross County); and Waverly (Pike County). The inclusion of all of the communities with stops along the trail will have multiple benefits. Implementation Items Benefits to Heritage Trail. Ҍ Ҍ Ҍ Ҍ
Seamless experience for visitors to have each community be actively promoting the trail and telling their stories Increasing awareness of the heritage trail among residents in all of the communities Greater opportunities for trail-wide cooperation on future activities, and funding for projects Sustaining and increasing momentum to have a positive economic impact on communities through heritage tourism activities
Benefits to Communities. Ҍ Opportunity to join an ongoing effort to promote the canal heritage for each community through collaboration with existing Canal Partners Ҍ Access to the Southern Descent branding Ҍ Design for interpretive signage (text and images to be reviewed and approved by Heritage Trail historian) Ҍ Participation and promotion of heritage trail events Ҍ Identification and promotion of certain businesses as part of the trail (see steering committee above) Ҍ Access to projects resulting from joint funding Expectations of New Canal Partner Communities. Ҍ Financial contribution to Heritage Trail to be included in all of the benefits listed above (details to be worked out by the steering committee) Ҍ Designate a “point person” to be a participant in Canal Partner meetings and decision-making Ҍ Agree to promote the Heritage Trail through local organizations as appropriate
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OHIO & ERIE CANAL SOUTHERN DESCENT HERITAGE TRAIL STRATEGIC PLAN
