Recommendation 2

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 Seamless experience for visitors to have each community be actively promoting the trail and telling their stories Ҍ Increasing awareness of the heritage trail among residents in all of the communities Ҍ Greater opportunities for trail-wide cooperation on future activities, and funding for projects Ҍ 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