WORK ON TRAILS CONTINUES

The Blair Trails Committee’s goal of helping in development of trails as outlined in the City’s master plan continues to move forward.  The Trails Committee’s overall mission is to raise awareness, support, and funds for a trail system connecting Blair’s schools, parks, neighborhoods, and recreational facilities together with a network of walking/biking trails; increasing safety, improving health, recreation, wellness, and conserving energy. 

Over 4 total miles of trails are already in place: along Jackson Street by the High School (0.6 mi.), along Grant Street from 9^th to the Bowling Alley (0.3 mi.), along Wilbur Street south of the YMCA (0.2 mi.), and along HWY 30 from Woodhouse to Washington Street (1.6 mi.)  The Deerfield-Lions trail connecting Deerfield through Arbor Park to Lion’s Park was finished last summer (1.3 mi.) and it is fantastic to see so many people utilizing it.  The current phase will connect the Deerfield trail to the Hospital, Dana College, and Black Elk-Niehardt Park along Cauble Creek, College Drive, and behind Dana’s baseball/softball fields (.75 mi.)  Funding for this phase has already been approved and targeted completion date is summer 07.  The plan for the next phases will be for trail construction in the newly forming California Bend Recreation area (2 mi.) and to extend the Jackson street trail east of the high school out to the river, California Bend, Optomist’s Park & boat ramp (1.1mi.)

The Trails Committee’s main fundraiser is the Annual Gateway to the West Walk/Run, which will be held this year on Saturday, June 10^th in conjunction with Gateway to the West Days. Last year’s event raised a total of $3039 which was split equally between the YMCA and the Trail’s fund, bringing the total money raised for the Trail’s Project over the last 7 years to nearly $19,000.  Last year’s event was one of the biggest ever and the 1^st to utilize part of the new trail system in the race.  Plans this year are to have as much of the run course on the trail as possible.  The committee is also considering expanding the event to offer an optional biathlon (run-bike-run), and streamlining the run from the traditional 1, 3, and 5 mile options down to a 5 K (3.1mi.) run and the 1-mile fun run/walk.

UNICCO was the winner of last year’s un-official Corporate Challenge for the most participants.  This year we’re hoping to have more Corporate categories to help increase participation, with plans for the following year to make the event an official part of the YMCA’s Corporate Challenge.  We again want to thank everyone who helped sponsor last year’s event.

 Dedicated committee members who continue to work very hard on this annual event include: Roger Lorsch, Ardee Pounds, Doug Cook, Steve Appel, Mark Davidson, Jeff Karls, Jerry Wilke, Nathan Prenzlow, Sandy Christiansen, Ryan Thompson, Rick Paulsen, Debbie Burrack, Dean & Kent Ogle, Tim Young, Randy Lock, and Dave Nannen.  The newly formed Blair Bike Club has also pledged their support for the Trails Project.  If you are interested in participating, sponsoring, volunteering to help with the event, or want additional information, please contact Dave Nannen at (402) 426-3488.

Blair is actively striving to become a bicycling friendly community. For more information on the national effort, visit the Bicycle Friendly Community Website.