Closure is limited to the trail segment above the Dayton Canoe Club clubhouse; detour will route trail users around construction for approximately 30 days.
DAYTON, Ohio — July 15, 2026 — The Miami Conservancy District will begin a repair project on July 20, 2026, on the Great Miami River Recreation Trail along Riverside Drive in Dayton, where it crosses the roof of the Dayton Canoe Club clubhouse, a long-standing trouble spot along the trail. The trail will be closed to all users at the work site for approximately 30 days while crews replace the deteriorated concrete deck, rebuild joints, and restore proper drainage. A signed detour will be in place for the duration of the closure, and the trail is expected to reopen on or about August 18, 2026.
MCD currently maintains about 30 miles of trail, and more than 50 miles of trail are built on MCD-owned land. The Great Miami River Recreation Trail is part of the regional system of more than 350 connected, paved, off-road trails managed by many trail partners across southwest Ohio, including the 101-mile Great Miami River Recreation Trail. The segment affected by this project is a small but heavily traveled stretch, connecting downtown Dayton to several metro parks and neighborhoods to the north.
The Dayton Canoe Club, established in 1912, is located on the banks of the Great Miami River near the Helena Street Bridge. The clubhouse was built long before the Great Miami River Recreation Trail, which runs directly across the roof of the clubhouse. At that location, the trail narrows and cracks and failing joints in the aging concrete surface have allowed water to leak into the building for years. Earlier spot repairs offered temporary relief, but Miami Conservancy District determined a full rehabilitation of the trail deck was needed to permanently address the problem.
The project will include:
● Removing and replacing the deteriorated concrete trail deck over the clubhouse roof
● Rebuilding the joint at the clubhouse foundation wall with new structural support
● Sealing all joints and cracks to stop water infiltration into the clubhouse
● Adjusting catch basins and re-grading the trail surface to restore proper drainage
“This is a section of trail we've had to patch again and again over the years,” said MaryLynn Lodor, General Manager of the Miami Conservancy District. “And it's a critical link in a regional trail system that connects tens of thousands of people to the river every year. This project gets at the root of the problem so we can keep the trail in good shape for years to come.”
This project is funded through the River Corridor Improvement Subdistrict (RCIS), a Miami Conservancy District assessment collected through 11 communities that supports MCD's maintenance of that trail mileage and its river activity areas. These limited funds were never intended to cover the full range of capital needs, and after decades of maintaining this stretch of trail, several sections are now showing wear that goes beyond routine maintenance. MCD recently secured grant funding for improvements to other sections of the trail, but without additional funding sources or matching dollars, further capital improvements will remain challenging to accomplish.
During construction, trail users will be directed around the closed section via a posted detour route. A temporary partial lane closure will also be in effect on northbound Riverside Drive to support construction access. Signage and barricades will mark the detour for its full duration and will be removed once the trail reopens. Trail users are encouraged to follow all posted detour signage and to use caution near the work zone.
The project is expected to take approximately 30 calendar days, weather and field conditions permitting, with completion targeted for mid-to-late August 2026.
Detour Information
A detour map showing the closed segment and the recommended alternate route along the Great Miami River Recreation Trail is available on MCD's website and Facebook page.
About the Miami Conservancy District
Miami Conservancy District (MCD) is a pioneering organization at the forefront of flood protection, water stewardship, and recreation since 1915. Established after the disastrous 1913 flood that caused widespread destruction and loss of life in the Miami Valley region, the organization's founders recognized the urgent need for a coordinated approach to managing the region's water resources and preventing future floods.
