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哥伦布、匹兹堡及各地消息
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Governor DeWine Cuts Ribbon on New Welcome
Center in Ashtabula County
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July 01, 2024
Governor DeWine cuts the ribbon on the new Ashtabula County I-90
westbound Welcome Center.
(CONNEAUT, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of
Development (DOD) Director Lydia Mihalik, and Ohio Department of
Transportation (ODOT) Director Jack Marchbanks cut the ribbon on the
newly re-imagined Ashtabula County I-90 westbound Welcome Center,
unveiling a place that tells Ohio’s story of Lake Erie, Ashtabula
County’s covered bridges, and so many other magnificent attractions.
AshtabulaWelcomeCenter1The Ashtabula County Welcome Center, just
inside Ohio’s northeastern border, features Ohio’s agritourism and
fishing industries, Historic Ashtabula Harbor, Port Conneaut Marina,
Holden Arboretum, Smolen-Gulf Covered Bridge, North Coast WWII
Museum, Ashtabula Arts Center, Geneva State Park, James A. Garfield
National Historic site, Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum,
Ashtabula County’s covered bridges, and the Lake Metroparks Farmpark.
It’s part of Governor DeWine’s vision to greatly improve the
traveler experience for the thousands of visitors who stop at Ohio
rest areas every day.
“Ohio is the heart of it all - whether you’re visiting a Lake Erie
beach, fishing for walleye, or touring a lighthouse or covered
bridge, we want travelers to find their next vacation inspiration
when they stop at our Ashtabula Welcome Center,” said Ohio Governor
Mike DeWine. “Outside the Ashtabula Welcome Center, families can
stroll through the Ohio native plants and trees or the Storybook
Trail, which features a Dolly Parton Imagination Library book.”
At the Ashtabula County Welcome Center, the Storybook Trail features
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. There are currently 14
Storybook Trails at Ohio rest areas statewide, with plans for an
additional two by the end of the year.
“By reimagining our rest areas, we’re creating a better experience
for everyone and inspiring future travel plans,” said DOD Director
Lydia Mihalik. “Our hope, ultimately, is that travelers, having
caught a glimpse of what they can experience in Northeast Ohio, will
be inspired to explore more, extend their stay, and hopefully one
day return!”
covered bridgeConneaut local artist Walter Gunter’s State Road
Covered Bridge model is also on display, which won the Ashtabula
Covered Bridge Festival contest last year.
Ohio’s rest area work also includes partnerships to empower Ohioans.
The Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio Department of
Development worked with the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and
Visually Impaired (CABVI) to provide the stunning signage throughout
the Ashtabula Welcome Center. Opportunities for Ohioans with
Disabilities (OOD) provides entrepreneurs who are legally blind the
chance to manage vending services. People of various abilities are
offered opportunities in janitorial and groundskeeping work.
“The new rest area improvements and ongoing maintenance are a
testament to our commitment to supporting the independence of people
with disabilities," said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. “These types
of partnerships and contracts embody our core values to ensure all
Ohioans have the opportunities to thrive.”
The Ohio rest area project includes a plan to build 33 new rest
areas and upgrade dozens more by the end of 2026.
In 2023, visitors to Ohio generated $56 billion in visitor spending
plus indirect sales, which supported nearly 436,000 jobs. |
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