September Trail Talk
FUN FALL TRAIL EVENTS
26TH ANNUAL U of O OKTOBERFEST BIKE RIDE: Saturday, September 30, 2017 – Enjoy this fun 24-mile bike ride around West Lake Okoboji. You will be treated to scenic trails and lakeside roads as you take in the beauty of the Iowa Great Lakes on your bicycle. West O Brewery will greet you with free beer at the end of the ride where they will be serving their special Oktoberfest brew. Throughout and after the ride there will be drink and food deals all around the Lakes area. opens in a new windowVisit www.okobojichamber.com to register and see the rest of the Oktoberfest fun happening all weekend. Proceeds from the ride go to Dickinson County Trails.
2017 U of O MUTT STRUT: Saturday, October 7, 2017 – Spend your Saturday morning taking a stroll with your favorite furry friends. The scenic walk begins at the Pearson Lakes Art Center at 11:00a.m. and includes contests and awards as well as goodie bags with treats for both you and your pup. 100% of registration fees will go to the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa. Information and registration can be found at www.okobojichamber.com .
FAMILY GLOW WALK/RUN: Saturday, October 7, 2017 – The Bedell Family YMCA, Dickinson County Nature Center and Pearson Lakes Art Center have joined together to host this fun family event from 6:30-8:30p.m. The Family Glow Walk/Run will begin at the Pearson Lakes Art Center where you will pick up your registration materials, take part in fun art activities and glow face painting. Families will then head out on the trail that leads to the Dickinson County Nature Center and enjoy fun activities sponsored by Bedell Family YMCA. At the Nature Center, participants will explore an astronomy room, see nocturnal creatures, walk by glowing ponds and explore an insect room. Finally, all kids will get to make a firefly craft that will help light the path back to the art center. Visit www.dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com for information and registration.
MAINTENANCE AND TRAIL SIGNAGE
Work continues on Gordon Drive in Okoboji and the trestle bridge is now closed at the north end by Mau Marine. The south end of the bridge will be closed in the near future to replace rough pavement and correct the drop off at the bridge approach. The project is providing much needed trail improvements in this area.
The bridge on the Kenue Park Trail just north of Pearson Lakes Art Center will be replaced this week and the trail will be closed for 2-3 days. One other significant maintenance project will take place yet this fall on the Spine Trail south of 202nd Street near Nature Trails in Milford. We will be doing work to stabilize the bank and replace nearly 200 feet of trail pavement. Th
is project will close the trail between 202nd Street and 210th Street for approximately 2-3 weeks. Notification of trail closures will be sent out on our website, Facebook and DickinsonA!ert. Sign up to get alerts from the Dickinson County Trails Board delivered to your cell phone via text message by texting DCTRAILS to 69310 or visit www.dcem.us .
Orleans DCTB representative Bill Maas and Executive Director Erin Reed have been out doing sign inventory and cataloging what signs need to be replaced or added to the trail system. This is an extensive project that we hope to start implementing this fall and continue into the spring. Our goal is to get everything in good shape and help trail users find their way around the beautiful Iowa Great Lakes before the next biking season begins. Milford Boy Scout Quinn Dodds will also be working on his Eagle Scout Rank this fall by implementing E-911 signage along the West Okoboji Trail. Thank you to Quinn and Milford Boy Scouts for their help in continuing this important project.
As always, Happy Trails to You and Yours.
Erin Reed, DCTB Executive Director