Celebrate Trails event successful, but windy
MEQUON — The MT Trails Foundation hosted its third annual Celebrate Trails event last Saturday in the parking lot at Spur 16 in Mequon.
This annual event, initiated by the Rails to Trails Conservancy, is celebrated in towns and communities across the country on the fourth Saturday in April, so inevitably, uncertain weather conditions are to be expected.
With this year’s 20-plus mph winds, the headline for the event could easily read “Visitors blown away by third annual Celebrate Trails event!” Tents were toppled, flyers and giveaways were flying away. The warm temperatures did, however, woo hearty bicycle enthusiasts, dog-walkers and others who enjoyed live music provided by Jon Rouse, giveaways from Orangetheory, Cafe Hollander and Rails to Trails and other handouts from participating vendors including Fromm Foods, Trailside Recreation and the MT Trails Foundation.
Cyclists from Bayview, Grafton and Cedarburg, along with local residents, stopped by for the festivities while an officer from the Mequon Police Department rode his e-bike and mingled with the crowd. Ozaukee County Bike trail maps were available and trail information for biking loops in Mequon-Thiensville that cover 4-, 8-, 12- and 17-mile routes throughout the community were provided.
These loops can be found on the city of Mequon website at https://shorturl.at/uKM59.
Monies donated at this event will help fund the MT Trails Foundation’s first project: the Highland Road 1.5 mile, paved bike/pedestrian trail connecting the Interurban Trail to Rotary Park in Mequon. The total cost of the project is $1.5 million. With $1.3 million raised to date, the Trails Foundation needs $200,000 more to complete their fundraising.
The MT Trails Foundation would like to thank Spur 16 for providing the use of their parking lot to host this event and Trailside Recreation for providing free ebike test rides.
For more information about the Highland Road trail or to donate to the cause, go to https://mtcfgives. org/mttrails/. The next significant fundraising event to support the MT Trails Foundation — The Autumn Harvest Chef’s Table — is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 15 at Foxtown Station in Mequon.
Left, e-bike Police Officer Ben Heinen hopped off his bike to give a sticker to a young girl and her mom. Above, pictured promoting the MT Trails new safety apparel, which debuted at the event, are, from left, Marvin VanTreeck on a 1995 Serotta, Ron Heinritz on a 1949 Cadillac Schwinn and Ken Maciolek on a 1976 BSA 3-speed.
Photos courtesy of the MT Trails Foundation
