The project you have is ambitious.
Planned outcome is really auspicious.
To get it in place,
Allowing it space,
Takes efforts that are repetitious.
Do you have a plan in your life
That's moving at glacial speed?
Local bike and walking trail,
Mill Town Trail, will eventually
Connect with two other trails;
Letting us ride off-road from
Mankato, MN to Red Wing, MN.
The plan has been in place for decades.
One new mile of this trail
Just opened.
Remaining steps:
Grass to plant in some places,
Anti-erosion measures to be installed.
Trail itself, paved and meandering
Along Cannon River, is ready.
On this new mile
I've watched construction progress,
When I've ridden in the area,
Like a "sidewalk-superintendent."
Top Row L to R: First cut for new trail, Retaining wall in place Middle Row: Progress, Preparing surface Bottom Row: A fence! No chance of falling in river. Blacktopped surface.
Mill Town Trail is demonstration of pieces
Coming together to create an entire plan.
Progress has been
A few miles here,
Then another little bit there.
There has been
Discouragement at length of wait time
For some connector segment of land
To be available.
Legal arrangements,
Design hurdles, seemingly endless.
Requiring constant advocacy,
Repeated visits to landowners
Assuring them that bicyclists won't
Tear up the surroundings.
Peggy Prowe put her efforts into that.
Years of determined outreach and work
Have facilitated this real off-road Trail.
Amazing persistence.
Nearly three decades of grit-filled advocacy
Peggy Prowe...30 years of determined trail advocacy
Your plan that's moving at glacial speed …
Trust that all of those efforts,
Time spent,
Brilliant speeches intended to convince,
Repeated contacts, seemingly endless detours,
Can come together.
Hang in there.
Even on the scale of a
Multi-mile trail creation,
It is one-day-at-a-time.
One day, by one day
Recommitting moment by moment.
You know the drill.
You live it
In efforts of many sizes.
Sending vibes for
Trust in each effort.
Hugs,
Lin
Here it is, new trail, beautiful pathway.
Thank you Lin for this news and the photos – especially Peg's.
Fun picture of her, isn’t it? Love that smile…
Thank you, Lin. Such a gracious statement. I have treasured your and Bob’s support of the Mill Towns Trail.
Peggy, we get to enjoy it and so many other trails, because of you and your work! We are grateful.
I have been wondering what that stone wall was all about since early spring and am glad to know it is part of the trail system. Although I have not bicycled in many years I am glad to see the trail come to fruition for the benefit and joy of all.
Ta Da! Yes. Brilliant result.