Bluffton community celebrate Lions Way County Line Path

BLUFFTON, OH (WLIO) - The Bluffton Child Development Center was the place to be to celebrate a new pathway for bikers.

The "County Line Path" is part of a masterplan to create more than 9 miles of paths for bicyclists and pedestrians that loops around Bluffton, connecting to its 6 major recreation areas.

Strong community support behind the efforts of the Bluffton Lions Foundation and Pathway Board made this 15-year project into a reality.

Today's celebration featured a ribbon cutting ceremony of the Lions Way County Line Path and the unveiling of a donor-recognition sign.

"We have been working on this for a long time. It has just made our community even more livable than it already was. Now, we can connect all of these outlying areas, give people recreational opportunities, give people a chance to be outside, and really continue to help us build this small-town connective feel that Bluffton is so proud of," stated Jackie Bourassa, Bluffton Lions Foundation President

Bluffton Pathway Board President, Mitchell Kingsley further explained, "Every time we build a pathway, we try to deal with all of the people who would be affective by that, particularly landowners who are alongside. We want to have a good relationship with them, so we pay a lot of attention and do a lot of meetings. Just trying to make sure that everyone understands the benefits and feels the momentum of having a new thing like a pathway."

"We lived near the Augsburger Pathway for many years. Then, within the last year, we moved close to this new pathway here on County Line Road. So, we were thrilled when we moved into the neighborhood to realize we're going to have another safe place to ride our bikes and walk with our grandchildren and so forth. We use this path already almost daily," added Lawrence Matthews, Bluffton Resident.

The Bluffton Pathway Board says there are still more pathways to come and hope that this momentum continues moving forward.