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WHO/WHAT/WHERE
Northwest Ohio Geocachers are the proud adopters of a two mile section of S. River Road, west of Waterville near Grand Rapids, with a portion of our section bordering Providence Metropark, approximately from the 1.5 to 3.5 mile markers of old US-24. You can trace the route with Google's Street View™ in either direction from the links below.
As of August 29, 2012, our section of S. River Road changed from being US-24 to State Route 295 with the opening of new limited access highway alignment of US-24. With this re-alignment, the southern terminus of State Route 295 at River Rd, was extended to State Route 65 in Grand Rapids, thereby keeping our section a state maintained highway. The remainder of old US-24 in Lucas County on the Anthony Wayne Trail and S. River Road from Fallen Timbers to SR-295 is now Lucas County Road 53. (AKA the Anthony Wayne Trail, & Toledo-Napoleon Road)
Lucas County Road 53 is Exit 66 from west bound US-24 in Maumee. However our section can best be reached from either east or west via US-24 Exit 57, SR-295, S Berky Southern Rd, south to S. River Rd, and then west about a mile to our meeting location. While some maps may not yet be up-to-date, one FREE mobile app called Waze correctly maps & routes the new US-24 alignment & it's exit numbers.
We meet at the American Legion Post 232 (12580 S. River Rd at Yawburg Rd) parking lot (coordinates above) to base our event, and to hold a "tailgate" AAH Safety Briefing. Good, safe operations location in middle of adopted section with ample parking.
Our commitment is to pick up litter four times a year along our adopted highway section. In return, ODOT has posted some free advertising for us on roadway signs (see image above), at each each end of our adopted section.
East end highway section sign coordinates (~.7 miles from parking area):
N 41º 25.974 W 083º 49.871 - Google Street View™
West end highway section sign coordinates (~1.1 miles from parking area):
N 41º 25.029 W 083º 51.446 - Google Street View™
 ODOT places orange "SHOULDER WORK AHEAD" signs at each end of our section for each of our clean-up events. We are responsible for picking up litter only between the berm of the road and the utility pole line.
In the past, with enough volunteers to make four groups, our CITOs took less than an hour to complete. 14 cachers, 3 per group, & 2 shuttle drivers = ideal volunteer count.
CITO events are actually a good time, and as a bonus we also usually find a place to grab lunch, socialize (usually in Grand Rapids) & often hunt caches after the event.
Since we pick up litter along both sides of the road, that equals 4 miles of service over our 2 mile section. If you can not, or do not feel like walking and picking up litter, perhaps you can shuttle people, deliver water & other supplies.
We split into two to four groups and work FACING TRAFFIC ONLY! Depending on number of volunteers, we start in the middle & work to the ends, returning on the opposite side, or start in both the middle AND at the ends with someone helping to shuttle. Without someone to shuttle, a group drives to each end, parks safely, giving their keys to group working from middle to the end, as they pass each other.
Volunteers who work fast & in the best shape please choose the western sections.
Each adult participant must sign a State of Ohio group release form which should be available at the event. Children 12 through 17 are welcome to participate ONLY when accompanied by a parent or guardian, bringing a completed State of Ohio Parental/Guardian Release Form to the event. Please note: State of Ohio does NOT allow children under age of 12 to participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program.
By participating in this Event Cache, you are agreeing to the guidelines and liability limitations as described by Groundspeak's Geocaching.com Disclaimer that can be found here, and on all other cache pages. Additionally, you agree and understand that you are participating as an individual, and that NWOGEO has no insurance and assumes no liability in the unlikely event of a mishap.
This year our NWOGEO volunteer contact with the State of Ohio for this program is Richard Finch aka Papa2All. He coordinates with ODOT before the event date.
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