The fund-raising effort has received donations from corporate donors, foundations, local community sponsors and individual donors, but still has a way to go to meet the amount needed.

Smith said the donation puts them closer to the goal.

The donation came about because Smith recalled a Walmart employee coming to a city council meeting about a year ago to inform the city that Walmart had funds to contribute to community projects. He went to Walmart to speak to the lady and found she didn’t work there anymore, but he was able to speak to a manager who steered him in the right direction and helped him fill out the application.

After going through the application process for the donation, Smith was notified that Walmart was contributing $4,000.

Lonnie Stockdale, Chester American Legion, presents a check to Lisa Painter, deputy director, LeapHub, as donation for the new bike trail. (Submitted photo)

Painter also noted that The Friends of the Trail would like to recognize and thank the management team at Walmart, which include Andy Garwood and Will Mauzy, with special thanks to Ruth Clapsaddle. She also said additional recognition would be coming.

“The newly formed Friends of the Trail Teams: Trail Blazers, Trail Talk and Trail Funders, sponsored by the City of East Liverpool and East Liverpool Community Partnership for Revitalization, have made great progress,” Painter said. “To date, the community has donated over $50,000.”

In addition to the Walmart donations, the Friends of the Trail have received $1,000 donations from Farmers Bank, The East Liverpool Rotary, The Chester VFW and The Chester American Legion. The East Liverpool City Hospital Auxiliary in the amount of $7,500 and donations in the amount of $2,500 were made by Attorney Brandon Johnson and his brother-in-law John Henley of West Virginia. The Potterstown Foundation donated $2,000 and a donation in an unspecified amount was made by Marc and Cindy Hoffrichter.

According to Painter a donation from East Liverpool City Hospital is anticipated in January.

The Friends of the Trail have applied for grants through T Mobile, Giant Eagle, Sheetz, Columbia Gas and the Mason Foundation.

Lisa Painter, deputy director, LeapHub, accepts a donation for the design of the bike trail from Jeff Cartwright Smith and Judy Smit on behalf of the East Liverpool Rotary. (Submitted photo)

Painter said in a media release that this trail is not just a path, but also a catalyst for new tourism, downtown revival, and community wellness.

She noted that it will connect the city to the national Lake to River Greenway Network, fuel new business investments and be a safe space for families to run, walk and explore.

Anyone interested in donating to the trail can do so at www.DowntownEastLiverpool.com.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com

Lisa Painter, deputy director, LeapHub, accepts a check from Marc Hoffrichter, who along with his wife Cindy made a donation for the design of the new bike trail (Submitted photo)