A waterway once labeled the most endangered urban river in North America now draws corridor families to paddle it, and a planned 42-mile trail network would link neighborhoods in Woodlawn, Evendale, Sharonville and Springdale directly to Sharon Woods and Winton Woods.
The Mill Creek flows 28 miles through 37 jurisdictions. The conservation group American Rivers gave it that dire designation decades ago. Large-scale cleanup since then has transformed the creek into a growing recreation corridor where wildlife including beavers, osprey and bald eagles have returned, as discussed in a WVXU Cincinnati Edition segment that aired Aug. 4.
Woodlawn backs the Triangle Trail
On Oct. 14, 2025, Woodlawn Village Council adopted [Resolution No. 31-2025], formally supporting the Mill Creek Triangle Trail Feasibility Study. Mayor Brian Poole signed the measure, which commits the village to collaborating with neighboring communities and regional partners on trail connections. The resolution carries no financial obligation but signals Woodlawn's intent to participate as the project advances.
The Triangle Trail would create a 42-mile shared-use loop connecting more than a dozen Hamilton County communities. Nearly 20 miles of segments already exist. A key goal: linking Winton Woods in the northwest to Sharon Woods in the northeast through a network winding through Sharonville, Glendale and Woodlawn, according to Soapbox Media.
"We are trying to fill a need of communities that want it to be easier for residents and visitors to walk and bike, not only in their communities, but to neighboring communities," Wade Johnston, executive director of Tri-State Trails, the nonprofit leading the project, said in a March 2026 interview with Soapbox Media.
Construction underway
The 3.6-mile Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail entered its final construction phase in January 2026 and is scheduled for completion by fall 2027. The $7 million-plus project, funded by federal and local grants, will be 12 feet wide, paved and ADA accessible, according to WVXU.
In March 2026, Great Parks of Hamilton County reopened Sharon Lake at Sharon Woods after a $17 million restoration. The Sharon Creek Trail, running through Sharonville and Evendale just north of the creek's confluence with the Mill Creek, will eventually connect to the Triangle Trail network.
Already on the water
Corridor residents don't have to wait for trail construction to enjoy the creek. In July 2025, Woodlawn and Wyoming co-hosted a free "Canoes & Community" paddle on the West Fork Mill Creek. Woodlawn built a new access ramp for the event, which drew 75 attendees and 61 paddlers across two trips on a 1.2-mile route starting south of Glenwood Gardens, according to the Mill Creek Alliance.
Michele Gottschlich, an Evendale resident who chairs the Mill Creek Alliance board, told Lincoln Heights council in March 2023 that the Reading, Evendale and Sharonville section of the creek was next in line for trail building and that Great Parks had purchased land in the area.
Woodlawn has woven the creek into its regular programming. The village's 2026 wellness series included a "Meditation by the Mill Creek" session, and a Village Walking Club meets weekly.
What's ahead
An engineering and feasibility study for the full Triangle Trail was completed in late 2025. More than 90% of survey respondents said they would feel comfortable bicycling on a shared, multi-use trail. The study now serves as a foundation for grant applications as corridor communities seek funding to close gaps in the network.
The Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail is expected to open by fall 2027. Residents can check Great Parks of Hamilton County's calendar at greatparks.org for upcoming events at Sharon Woods and Glenwood Gardens, and the Village of Woodlawn posts its recreation schedule at beautifulwoodlawn.us.
