October Trails Talk
DCTB & HOPE ROLLS
FUNDRAISER RAFFLE
Left: DCTB Executive Director, Erin Reed presents Shanna Claybaugh and Maria Mellmann from Hope Rolls with a check for $3,000 from the DCTB’s summer fundraiser raffle.
The DCTB’s collaboration with Hope Rolls was another big success raising $6,000 in funds for trail development and to provide recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Hope Rolls was founded in 2019 to provide adaptive tricycles to children who are unable to ride traditional bikes. In early 2021, Hope Rolls chose to expand their mission to include a park for all ages and abilities. The park will include sensory equipment, workout equipment, a challenge-agility course (think ninja warrior) and accessible equipment that can easily be utilized by those in wheelchairs or using walkers.
The DCTB appreciates Hope Rolls’ mission to provide recreational opportunities to every one of all abilities. Please visit the Hope Rolls Facebook page to learn more about this wonderful organization and their accessible park plan.
Thank you to Boj◦e-Bikes for donating the big prize of an e-bike as well as Bikes, Boards & Shades, Okoboji Cyclist, Greg Gamble and Kuhlman Lake Service for providing additional great prizes for the raffle. Congratulations to the winner of the e-bike, Aphton Rocha, we hope you and your family enjoy many rides out on the beautiful trails with your new bike.
LAKE PARK AWARDED REAP GRANT
On October 13, the city of Lake Park was awarded a grant of $75,000 from the Iowa DNR REAP program for Phase IV(b) of Tatanka Ska Trace. This phase will start in Montgomery and go west for 2.5 miles. The REAP grant, along with a federal recreational trails grant of $395,000, will help fund the remaining segment that completes the connection between Lake Park and Spirit Lake. The DCTB looks forward to the continued development of Tatanka Ska Trace and finalizing the connection with Lake Park in 2023.
SPIRIT LAKE 5TH & 6TH GRADERS RIDE
TATANKA SKA TRACE
Spirit Lake PE teacher Tim O’Hagan has spent the month of October organizing 5th and 6th grade student rides along Tatanka Ska Trace from the Spirit Lake trailhead to Montgomery. Each of the ten rides includes 18-20 students riding up to 10 miles on the round trip to Montgomery and back. These rides are a great opportunity to showcase the rail trail and the DCTB thanks Mr. O’Hagan for his passion and efforts in teaching our local students the joy of bicycling in the Iowa Great Lakes.
As always, Happy Trails to You and Yours.
Erin Reed, Executive Director