Loop trail dedication planned Saturday

The Jefferson County Trails Council will celebrate the completion of a 14-year undertaking Saturday with a dedication ceremony for the Fairfield Loop Trail.

?We had no idea it would take this long or be this extensive,? trails council president Ron Blair said. ?The whole trails council is proud of the accomplishment. We were constantly cheered on.?

Speakers during the 1:30 p.m. ceremony, to be held where the trail passes between the Maasdam Barns and Jefferson County Health Center, will acknowledge the numerous contributors ? from the volunteers and contractors to the artists and funding sources. Fairfield Mayor Ed Malloy and Jefferson County Supervisor Dick Reed will speak to the trail?s value to the city and county, and Ron Meyers will recall the trail?s origin with the Jefferson County Conservation Board.

Blair encourages the public ?to walk or bike on the trail either before the dedication or after.?

Construction of the 16-mile loop trail relied on ?tens of thousands of man-hours volunteered to help build the bridges and clear where the trails were going,? Blair said. ?The dedication of the volunteers to stay the course, to keep the momentum alive ? it?s really a great thing.?

The idea of the loop trail began years ago when the conservation board identified a need for more trails. The board discovered the trails within Jefferson County Park are used every day of the year by every age group and every economic group, Blair said.

Eventually the trails council was formed and charged with expanding the local trails system.

Blair said the big vision for the loop trail came after the Department of Transportation finalized plans for the Highway 34 Bypass, enabling the council to finance 6 miles of parallel trail with federal enhancement funds. Then the trails council looked to create a ?linear greenbelt? by connecting the city?s existing natural areas, such as Whitham Woods and Pleasant Lake.

Blair estimated the entire project?s value at $6 million to $7 million, including all the grants, volunteer time and donated easements.

Not only has the loop trail served the community?s recreation needs, it has promoted health, wellness and tourism, Blair said.

?It?s a quality of life infrastructure,? he said. ?It?s something that makes people happy and want to stay in Fairfield or relocate. It?s an additional benefit to living in this area.?

Though the loop trail is essentially complete, Blair said some future enhancements will include installation of mile markers and educational signage.

Also, the trails council is contemplating its future, having fulfilled its mission statement. Blair expects the group to continue in some form to manage future maintenance, events and enhancements.