We are happy to report that the Agraria Trail is on track to open this summer! To learn more, read on—but also please attend the Virtual Town Hall the Village of Yellow Springs is hosting on Wednesday, February 24th at 7:00pm (link provided below). This trail connecting Agraria with Yellow Springs began as a core idea emerging out of our conversations with the community after Community Solutions purchased the land for Agraria in March 2017. After many conversations and staff walks, the dreaming process has taken on firmness and urgency since Agraria was awarded $500,000 from the Clean Ohio Trails Fund toward the construction of a multi-use trail that will start at East Enon Road just south of Yellow Springs High School and travel about a mile through wooded areas and past wetlands and farm fields to end up at Agraria’s historic barn.Throughout the delays and challenges of the past year, we have been moving forward safely and steadily towards a finished path. Our staff, with the amazing help of the National Civilian Conservation Corps, has cleared approximately 1.8 acres of dense honeysuckle through the trail’s planned corridor, carefully avoiding as many precious trees as possible and using cleared trees’ lumber for fence posts and other farm needs. In place of the honeysuckle, Community Solutions will plant hickories and oaks and woody understory plants such as native spicebush. The new trail will be named “Mary’s Way,” after the late Mary Donahoe who donated 10 acres adjacent to Agraria and has been supportive of the organization from the start. It will provide a myriad of opportunities for students and adults to learn, have fun and enjoy everything Agraria has to offer.  A food forest designed for Agraria by permaculture expert Peter Bane is also being planned for areas along the new trail. Riders will also cross Jacoby Creek at a couple of points, and witness the creek restoration being completed with the Nature Conservancy. A bicycle repair station and gathering area will sit at the Agraria end of the trail. Future visions for the trail include interpretive signage, an education pavilion, and a welcome center housed in the historic barn. Agraria is very excited to provide an opportunity for recreation and an additional, enjoyable way for the community to reach the Agraria property.

https://www.communitysolution.org/bike-trail for trail vision and

https://www.yso.com/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item;id=2076/

for Virtual Open House information