WYSO
was a longtime public servant, and an advocate for the environment. He was an icon for the rails-to-trails movement in Ohio.
On Saturday, a special funeral procession was held on the bike trail between Yellow Springs and Xenia. It was for Ed Dressler, the man known as the “father” of Greene county’s network of trails.
Charles E. Dressler, or Ed, was a longtime public servant, and an advocate for the environment. He was an icon for the rails-to-trails movement in Ohio. He transformed hundreds of miles of overgrown and unused railroad tracks in southwestern Ohio into the paved bike trails that exist today. Parks and trails professionals from all over the United States and Canada visited the Miami Valley to see Dressler’s trails.
Charles E. “Ed” Dressler, age 82, was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, on March 20, 1938. He entered Heaven’s gates on Jan. 9, 2021, surrounded by his loving family at home in Xenia. Ed was a longtime resident of Greene County with strong ties to Xenia and Yellow Springs and Fairhaven Church.
A loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, widower and public servant, Ed never met a stranger, and eagerly conversed with and helped anyone he came to meet. In his free time, Ed enjoyed biking, photography, shooting guns and being with his grandkids, great-grandkids, and pug, Max. He was an advocate for the environment and was a passionate volunteer for the Ohio Rails for Trails.
‘Champion of bike paths’ remembered
Photo courtesy Greene County Parks & Trails Ed Dressler talks to a crowd about bike trails.
Dressler
Photo courtesy Greene County Parks & Trails Because of Ed Dressler, railways like this were turned into paved trails.
Scott Halasz | Greene County News The trail leading to Xenia Station is popular for bicyclists. Without Ed Dressler’s vision, that wouldn’t be exist.
File photo Ed Dressler displays some of his memorabilia of the Rails to Trails project. His vision for re-purposing abandoned rails is why Greene County has all of the paved trails it does.
XENIA When he retired from what was then the Greene County Park District, Charles “Ed” Dressler left a trail of success.
‘Champion of bike paths’ remembered
Photo courtesy Greene County Parks & Trails Ed Dressler talks to a crowd about bike trails.
Dressler
File photo Ed Dressler displays some of his memorabilia of the Rails to Trails project. His vision for re-purposing abandoned rails is why Greene County has all of the paved trails it does.
Scott Halasz | Greene County News The trail leading to Xenia Station is popular for bicyclists. Without Ed Dressler’s vision, that wouldn’t be exist.
Photo courtesy Greene County Parks & Trails Because of Ed Dressler, railways like this were turned into paved trails.
XENIA When he retired from what was then the Greene County Park District, Charles “Ed” Dressler left a trail of success.
‘Mega-Trail’ in the works for Greene County
Ron Brohm
XENIA Something really big is happening in Greene County and if you like the great outdoors, hiking, and nature then you’re are going to really love this.
First of all, if you didn’t already know, Greene County has one of the best wetlands systems in the midwest right here in our own backyard. It’s called the Beaver Creek Wetlands and it’s an incredible group of 11 wetland properties that span the length of two connecting scenic waterways; the Little Beaver Creek and Beaver Creek.
But better yet, it’s going to get much bigger better and even more connected and accessible than ever.