Nothing makes you feel like a kid again quite like getting on a bicycle and going for a ride and Centerville is a great place to do so. Riders of all ages have a wide variety of trails and paths to choose from for riding including sections of the larger Miami Valley Trail Network, the largest paved trail network in the nation.
“The Centerville Washington Park District (CWPD) is proud to be part of this trail network with over 10 miles of multi-use paved trails for the community to enjoy for exploration, health and wellness,” shares Carrie Dittman, Marketing & Communications Supervisor with CWPD.
Iron Horse Trail is an example of one of these paths. It runs directly alongside Iron Horse Park, one of the 51 parks and over 1,000 acres of parklands the CWPD manages. “Iron Horse Park is a fantastic option for cyclists of all levels. The park has a new 0.6-mile loop that goes around the park’s perimeter. The park has a bicycle air pump, restrooms and water fountains. It is adjacent to the Iron Horse Trail, which cyclists can take 19 miles north through Kettering into Dayton,” explains Carrie.
Holes Creek and Silver Creek Parks might be perfect for a serene bike ride. “The parks offer 1.3 miles of paved path. If you park at the trailhead at Holes Creek Park, you can make a 2.6-mile round trip along the wooded path near a stream. A bit of shade makes this a popular destination in the warmer months,” says Carrie.
Forest Field is a wonderful park for the youngest bike enthusiasts to ride. “The paved loop is only a half mile long, perfect for little legs,” notes Carrie. Forest Field features a popular playground, combining traditional play equipment with a nature playground, restrooms, a picnic shelter and water fountains. “Adding a hike to your visit is easy since Bill Yeck Park is right next door. Bikes are not permitted on natural trails, so you’ll have to switch from wheels to your feet,” shares Carrie.
CWPD partners with Bike Centerville to offer free community bike rides with six rides planned this summer. Bike Centerville is a chapter of Bike Miami Valley (BMV), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate, promote and create opportunities for bicycling in the Miami Valley. If you are ready to ride but need repairs or a new set of wheels, check out our list of great local bike shops! For dates and locations for upcoming bike rides, visit CWPD.org.
K&G Bike Center
116 West Franklin St., Centerville, OH
937.436.2222 | KGBikes.com
International Pro Bike Shop
15 W. Franklin St., Bellbrook, OH
937.848.8466 | Facebook.com/p/International-Pro-Bike-Shop-100064006363238
Creekside Cyclery
1429 Grange Hall Rd, Beavercreek, OH
937.306.8486 | CreekBike.com
Whitman’s Bike Shop
134 S. Springfield St, St Paris, OH
937.663.7107 | WhitmansBikeShop.com
Trek Bicycle Dayton Kettering
3120 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH
937.293.3293 | TrekBikes.com/us/en_US/retail/dayton_kettering
Bicycles for All Dayton
201 E. 6th Street, Dayton, OH (basement of the red Armory Building).
An all-volunteer organization dedicated to getting people on bicycles. Facebook.com/BicyclesForAll