Look what they've done to my trail, Ma!

Sidewalk Closed!

Our little prairie city's biggest claim to fame (besides the fact that it is home to a recent Olympic gold medalist) just might be its recreational trail system. The trails run right across town, through an old-growth forest, past ponds and up and down some small hills. On the trail system, which runs right behind my house, I can ride my bike almost all the way to the library, to the east end shopping area, to grocery stores, to friends' homes, to my son's school.

The trails are hugely popular with dog-walkers, cyclists of all ages, skateboarders, roller-bladers, families with strollers, photographers, elderly couples, teenage couples -- in short, pretty much everyone.

 

So, we were more than a little sad to see that they have closed and torn up a large section of the trail -- not to make improvements to the trail itself, but to make a road that will facilitate the development of a new construction project. Big machines and plenty of noise and mud are in the forecast for the next few months or longer. One can only hope the result will be a good one.