Bike trail path subject of public meeting

A $35,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study for a new route for the Mountain-Bay Trail in the Town of Richmond is coming to fruition with a public meeting scheduled for June 25. The public is invited to attend the meeting from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Room A of the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St. “The Mountain-Bay Trail covers 53 miles through the county and 81 miles or so through three counties,” said Nancy Brown-Koeller. She is president of the nonprofit Shawano Pathways group that facilities the development, implementation and maintenance of a biking and walking trail system in Shawano County. “All of it is on an old railroad bed, except for 4 1/2 miles in the Town of Richmond.” Officials with the engineering firm MSA Professional Services, Friends of the Mountain-Bay Trail and Shawano County Parks Department will discuss the need for a new route and the five alternatives explored as part of the study. MSA officials will make a specific recommendation as to a preferred route between Maple Avenue and County Road M. Brown-Koeller said this area of concern has been at the top of user surveys the past several years. “Tourism gets calls from people who get lost on this stretch of the trail,” she said. “We’ve been looking for years at what are some options.” Safety, accessibility and connectivity for all trail users are the goals of the new route and the study itself. Displays at the meeting will showcase existing conditions, proposed trail alignments and environmental considerations. Attendees can review the routes and provide feedback to project planners. “We work with the city and county parks departments,” Brown-Koeller said. “We’re glad to have such great partnerships with both of them.” The Transportation Alternatives Program grant covered 80% of the cost of the study. The remaining 20% was contributed by Shawano Pathways, Friends of the Mountain-Bay Trail and Shawano County tourism. Brown-Koeller said it took years to get to this stage; once a new path is adopted, it will most likely be another five years for it to be completed. “We need to talk with the Department of Transportation, the DNR about wetlands, and what grant sources are available to pay for it,” she said. kpasson@newmedia-wi.com