|
~ Trail
Dedication Ceremony June 18th 2005 ~
|
|
A lifelong dream of area horse
and snowmobile riders has come true with the completion of a connecting
trail dedicated June 18, 2005 in the Southern Kettle Moraine
State Forest.
The program included a
ribbon-cutting ceremony, remarks by officials of participating agencies and
organizations, a carriage ride along the trail for dignitaries and press
with horse riders escorting and refreshments. |
|
 |
|
Pictured above: State
Representative Stephen Nass; Ray Hajewski, retired trail coordinator, SKM Forest;
State Senator Neil Kedzie |
The Department of Natural Resources Kettle Moraine
State Forest Southern Unit, the Southern Kettle Moraine Horse Trail
Association and the Kettle Moraine Riders Snowmobile Club arranged the
event.
The dedication ceremony commemorated completion of a new trail
connecting the Ottawa and Eagle trails, said Paul Sandgren, forest
superintendent. The state’s purchase last fall of 80 acres provided
the final link for a horse and snowmobile trail that runs the entire
length of the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest and is spread across
three counties, he said. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Senator Kedzie; Representative
Nass; Gloria McCutcheon, regional director, Department of Natural Resources;
and Paul Sandgren, Forest Superintendent |
|
Paul Sandgren and Barclay
Wallace, SKMHTA President |
|
Covering a distance of more
than 33 miles, it connects the Ottawa trails with the Eagle trails, creating
a trail that starts near Highway P at the south, ending at Highway C near
the Ottawa Dog Trial Grounds in the north.
The forest-long trail has been
named the Moraine Ridge Trail, voted the winner out of more than 50 names
entered in a Name-the-Trail contest sponsored by the Southern Kettle Moraine
Horse Trail Association. SKMHTA members and snowmobile club members helped
in construction of the connecting trail.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
The
connecting trail picks up across Highway 59 from the end of the Eagle trail
just west of the village. It crosses Highway 67 just north of the Generac
plant in Eagle and then meets up with the Ottawa trail where it used to end
at Wilton Road near the Swinging W Ranch. “The new three-mile trail covers
interesting terrain through prairie fields, forests and old farm fields. The
trail is well-marked with guideposts,” said Barclay Wallace, SKMHTA
president. |
|
 |
|
|
|
Photos~ Margo & Rae |
|
|
|
~ October 18th
2004 Trail Ride at Horseman's Park ~ |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Fire Ring-
Paul Sandgren, KMSF Southern Unit supervisor, with SKMHTA members, planning
installation of a fire ring and benches near the shelter at Horseriders
Campground.
|
| |
|
|
Mounting
Block - a rider using one of the mounting blocks constructed and
installed by SKMHTA members.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Officers
- four of the acting SKMHTA board members, from left, John Davis, events
coordinator; Russ Schuetz, president; Leslie Weaver, member at large; and
Barclay Wallace, projects/DNR coordinator. Other acting board members are
Dawn Haas, vice president; Kathy Schuetz, secretary; Joanne Burns,
treasurer; Rae Miller, media coordinator; and Annette Mayfield, member at
large. Formal nominations and election of officers by the full SKMHTA
membership will be held early next year.
|
| |
|
|
| Photos~ thanks
to Rae Miller |
|
|
