by Holly A. Leider, MD
MT Trails Committee member
The 2nd Annual Celebrate Trails event hosted by the MT Trails Foundation in conjunction with the Mequon-Thiensville Community Foundation took place on Saturday, April 22, from 10am-2pm at SPUR 16 in Mequon. This annual national event initiated by the Rails to Trails Conservancy is held on the 4th Saturday in April, so there is bound to be variable weather conditions for those of us in the Midwestern states.
With a brisk 40 degrees for set up, followed by a couple of bouts of rain and drizzle, topped by a barrage of hail just in time for take down, it was a stark contrast from the first event last year when it was absolutely lovely! Despite this, there were numerous vendors in attendance, including Trailside Recreation, Fromm Family Pet Food, Fox Town Brewery, the Wisconsin Bike Federation, and Wheel & Sprocket. There was also a representative from the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation who has been inspired by those living with MS who still get out on the trails. Ozaukee County Bike trail maps were available, giveaways from Café Hollander, Daily Taco, Athletic Brewing and Rails to Trails were enjoyed, and updates were given on the MT Trails Foundation’s progress on the Highland Road bike/pedestrian path. A big thank you to all of the people who came out, given the weather, to support our vendors and MT Trails Foundation and to Spur 16 and the Mequon Public Market for letting us hold the event in their parking lot.
MT Trails Foundation’s first project is the Highland Road 1.5 mile bike spur, which is a paved, off-road 10 foot wide two directional bike/pedestrian path to connect the Ozaukee Interurban Trail to Rotary Park. Of the $1.5 million dollar cost of the path, $1.1 million has been raised, leaving $400,000 to raise by the spring of 2024, when the group anticipates breaking ground on the project.
Save the Date: Gathering in White Summer Lawn Party & Chef’s Table
To this end, a summer evening fundraiser “Summer Lawn Party and Chef’s Table” will be held on Thursday, July 13 with cocktails, a 5 course meal with beverage pairings presented by exclusive chefs from the Southeastern Wisconsin area, followed by dancing and live music under the tents at Rotary Park in Mequon. Save the date!
Take a look at these photos from the event!
