Ohio Opens Pedestrian Bridge to Great Council Park

The Ohio Department of Transportation's new crossing over U.S. 68 links trails to Great Council State Park in Xenia Township.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Hiking

Bold vector editorial illustration of a curving pedestrian bridge arching over a highway, framed by trees under open sky. — The Ohio Department of Transportation opened a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 68 linking trails to Great Council State Park in Xenia Township. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Ohio Department of Transportation has opened a pedestrian bridge crossing U.S. 68 that lets pedestrians and bicyclists reach Great Council State Park in Xenia Township. The project also built multi-use path connections between the Little Miami Scenic Trail and the Shawnee Interpretive Education Center.

Why it matters

The crossing removes a barrier between Ohio's trail network and a newly opened state park, giving residents on foot and by bike a safer route to the site. It was developed in coordination with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Great Council State Park is the 76th state park in Ohio's system, and its education center spans 12,000 square feet over three floors. The bridge's usage levels since opening have not been reported.

The players

Ohio Department of Transportation

The state agency that built the pedestrian bridge and the path connections as part of the project.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

The state agency that coordinated with transportation officials on the project and oversees Ohio's state park system.

The details

The project included improvements to U.S. 68 in Oldtown and to the crossing at the intersection of U.S. 68 and Brush Row Road. The park commemorates Old Chillicothe, a Shawnee town founded in the 1770s by Chief Blackfish, and was developed alongside three federally-recognized Shawnee tribes.

June 2024: Great Council State Park opened to the public.

Historical Context

Great Council State Park sits on the site of Old Chillicothe, a Shawnee town founded in the 1770s by Chief Blackfish, and was developed alongside three federally-recognized Shawnee tribes. The park turns that historic location into a public space for hiking and learning.

Hikers and cyclists can now cross U.S. 68 on foot or by bike to reach Great Council State Park. The new path connections also link the Little Miami Scenic Trail to the Shawnee Interpretive Education Center.

The takeaway

The new bridge gives Ohio trail users a continuous route between the Little Miami Scenic Trail and a state park with deep Shawnee history. Planning a visit on foot or by bike is now more practical than before.