TREC Board Eyes Nature Park Along Trail

(A SANDBAR WOULD BE A KEY PART OF A NATURE PARK ENVISIONED AS A PART OF THE TREC TRAIL)

The TREC Board Tuesday heard that progress is being made on bike lanes throughout Effingham and a trailhead along Outer Belt West. 

The trailhead will provide additional parking for those wanting to utilize the TREC Trail.

The next big project, though, was also much discussed at Tuesday's meeting. 

That project is a TREC Nature Park. The park is to be developed along the trail and will include picnic tables, park benches, a bridge and an elevated walkway. The endeavor even offers naming rights for the nature park.

TREC Board President Frank Brummer said the nature park is a key goal of his. Brummer said he wants the location to be centered around a sandbar that would give kids and their parents an area to skip stones, play in the water, have picnics, and generally have a great time in the outdoors. Brummer compares it to the Ballard Nature Center. He says there would be a one-mile walk to get to the loop, then a 1-1/2 mile loop that would include the nature park.

Naming rights for the nature park would be available for $200,000. The bridge and elevated walkway would cost $50,000, picnic tables with concrete pads would be $15,000 each, and park benches with concrete pads would be $10,000 each.

Brummer said they plan to advertise for bids on the nature park next week and then open the bids on May 24. 

Meanwhile, work is moving along on the trailhead and parking area. Brummer said it's estimated the work will be done within four to six weeks. 

Brummer is also excited about the bike lanes throughout the City, which have been discussed since a citizens group mapped out a network of lanes several years ago. He said people will be able to bike to school and for exercise.

(WORK IS MOVING AHEAD ON THE TRAILHEAD AND LARGER PARKING AREA ALONG OUTER BELT WEST FOR THE TREC TRAIL)

The TREC Board reelected its officers including Brummer as President, William Austin as Vice President, Gary Welton as Secretary, and Andy Vogt as Treasurer. Four board members whose terms were expiring this year were reelected to new three year terms. They are Eric Zeller, Michael Janis, Karen Luchtefeld, and Austin.