Shape Your Big Walnut Trail: Cherrybottom Park to Morse Road Connection Public Input Survey

We want to hear from you! As we work to connect the 1.5-mile gap between Cherrybottom Park and Morse Road, your feedback will help us decide the final direction for safety, design, and environmental protection. We welcome you to take 5-10 minutes to complete this brief survey and share your thoughts.

The map below presents the area where the Big Walnut Trail extension between Cherrybottom Park and the existing Gahanna trail connection on Morse Road just east of Big Walnut Creek will be developed.

When answering the survey questions, please refer to this general rendering of the area proposed and answer accordingly.

1.Which best describes your relation to the current area? (Select all that apply)

Resident in the area

Business owner or employee in the area

Represent neighborhood association or civic group

Represent environmental or active transportation group

Staff member of a city service or government entity

None of the above

2.If yes to (Represent an environmental or active transportation) or (Staff member of a city service or government entity) what organization?

3.Which neighborhood do you reside in?

4.(Question for residents the area only) Do you have school-aged children who live at home?

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

5.What is your primary use of the existing trail system in Central Ohio?

For recreation (walking, jogging, biking, etc)

Commute to work or school

For nature activities or creek access

To access COTA and other transit locations

I do not use trails

Other (please specify)

8.(If yes) What is your primary mode of travel on the trail?

Walking or running

Bicycling

Using a mobility device/rolling (wheelchair, mobilityscooter)

Skateboarding, rollerblading, scooter, or similar activity

Electric bike or electric scooter

9.What factors are the most important to you about future development of the Big Walnut Trail? (Select the top three)

Accessibility to the trail network from business or neighborhood

Trailhead amenities, such as parking, signage, seating, and or shade

Minimizing environmental impact in wooded areas (Cherrybottom Park/woods near Big Walnut)

Safety along trail and at access points to the trail

Sidewalk and crosswalk enhancements or safety features along Morse Road and Appian Way

Aesthetic or user experience enhancements along trail, like benches, art or interpretive signage

10.Our goal is for the trail to enhance the area and naturally fit into the current residential and commercial landscape. Given your proximity to the trail (residence or business), which of the following are most important to you for us to consider? (Select the top three)

Privacy: Native trees and shrubs to provide privacy for residential backyards

Separation between property lines: Use strategic screening and fences where appropriate to maintain clear boundaries

Security: Use strategic lighting along trail

Safe access: Create clear, safe entry points from the trail to neighborhoods

Minimizing disturbances: Noise, excessive light, environmental impact or property trespassing

Aesthetic Enhancements: Interpretive signage, artwork, or unique sitting areas along trail

11.(Optional) Open Comment: As a resident or business owner, what concerns or excites you most about the trail’s proximity to your property?

12.(Optional) Open Comment: What unique natural or historical features of the Big Walnut Creek should be reflected in the trail's design?

13.Which of these features best align with your environmental priorities for the Big Walnut Creek corridor? (Select the top three)

Tree protection and enhancement: Adjusting the trail path to save mature trees. Plant trees along Appian Way and Morse Road to increase tree canopy.

Floodplain Management: Minimize impacts to the floodplain and creek

Sustainable Materials: Using natural materials for the trail like crushed gravel/limestone screenings in wooded areas

Minimizing disturbances for wildlife: Like excessive light, construction limits, noise or litter

Noise mitigation: add noise walls along Interstate 270 to mitigate highway noise in Cherrybottom Park

Other (please specify)

14.There are environmental and engineering constraints in the area that limit how we connect the trail and some proposed crossing points require crossing Morse Road. Which of the following safety features do you feel are essential to make that crossing safe for everyone? (Select the top three)

Shorter Crossing distances

High-Contrast signage

A safe stopping point halfway across the Morse Road and Appian Way crossing

Adequately lit crossing at Morse Road

Natural traffic calming measures, such as trees or shrubs near crossing

Option to cross under Morse Road near Big Walnut Creek instead of on Morse Road, even if it gets flooded during heavy storm events.

15.Open Comment: The connection is proposed to run parallel with Morse Road as a side trail on or near the existing sidewalk. Would you feel safe using this side trail along Morse Road? Why or why not?

16.(Optional) Open Comment: Tell us more about how we can make this experience safe.

18.(Optional) Open Comment: Are there specific access points along the trail you would recommend to increase your usage of the trail?

19.(Optional) Open Comment: Is there anything else you want to share with us about the trail that would inform the development of this connection?