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NKY Bike Trail To Spur Economic Development

A new Northern Kentucky walking and biking trail is expected to ramp up economic development.

Governor Steve Beshear stood on the largely deserted Covington Landing when handing over a $4 million federal check Wednesday that will help pay for Riverfront Commons, an 11 mile walking and biking trail from Ludlow to Dayton and beyond.

He said, "We believe it will accelerate Covington's already considerable momentum in the downtown and riverfront areas with projects like Hotel Covington, the filling of vacant storefronts and offices along Madison Avenue and the housing projects that are increasing the downtown population."

Groundbreaking for the trail is expected to be next year according to Mayor Sherry Carran. "There'll be a trail that follows the flood wall and then there'll be a lower trail that will reach towards the rivers' edge." She believes the trail will be finished in 18 to 24 months.

Hubs are part of the plan allowing canoeists access to the river and walkers and bikers a way to get to the shopping and entertainment districts.

Earlier this year WVXU's Tana Weingartner reported a portion of the trail opened in Newport.

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.