WOODSFIELD — The Monroe County Board of Commissioners is looking into expanding recreational services at the county-owned industrial park property in Center Township.

County Prosecutor James Peters met with commissioners Tuesday to discuss the possible expansion of the approximately 80-acre property to include a bike trail system. He presented a proposal from Linear Active, an engineering firm specializing in trail development out of Zanesville, Ohio, that would allow the company to create a concept plan and feasibility study for the property.

The company would provide potential trail locations as well as cost estimates and funding opportunities for the project.

Peters said he has been an avid mountain bike enthusiast for 10-15 years and is hoping to give fellow cyclists a place in the county to ride.

“My experience has been that mountain biking and up and coming mountain bikers will really travel a long way to hit some of these newly developed trails, and we really just don’t have those opportunities here. Currently, I drive about an hour away just to mountain bike, and sometimes that’s not possible when you only have a few hours to work with during the day,” he said.

Commissioner Mick Schumacher said they are currently working to gather white oak timber from the property for the Knowlton Covered Bridge restoration project.

He said the timber must be gathered by the end of the month.

After the timber is collected, Peters suggested the possibility of installing bike trails at the location.

Peters said the site has a lot of potential. Developing a multi-use trail system locally could increase tourism in the county, he added.

“It may not be a huge trail system, but even something 3-8 miles could really be something that could bring people into the local community. And, of course, when they’re here they spend money,” he said.

Commissioners unanimously approved the proposal from Linear Active for $4,450 which includes the planning and development of the trails.

Peters said the company will provide the projected trail map, where the trail corridors would be, the length of each projected trail, where the trail heads would be and parking areas, along with cost projections.

In the future, Peters said he hopes the area can be further developed to something similar to Wayne National Forest.

“There are a lot of trail programs being done in Athens. One is an 88-mile system, and it’s bringing people from all over to ride. I’d like to see something like that happen here locally where we have all this outdoor area for recreation. We just really haven’t developed any of it in our county,” he added.