About three miles of biking trails have been developed in the Mill Pond Forest, located off of Rose Road in rural Marshall County.
Brandon Calhoun, one of the volunteer organizers of the Trails at Mill Pond, gave the Marshall County Parks and Recreation Board an update Thursday night.
“That’s pretty much rideable trails,” Calhoun explained. “I went out there Tuesday and cleared the last downed trees and stuff that we didn’t get during the volunteer day, with the exception of a few that are going to remain in place to become features or whatnot. There’s approximately three miles.”
Another volunteer organizer, Jeff Houin, expanded more on the recent volunteer day.
Houin stated, “We had about eleven people I think total come out and work on it that day. We got most of that full three mile loop cleared that day. We went back out and Rich Ziggler, who is here tonight, has been pretty active helping us out there. Really, the three of us, since, then finished clearing that loop and start really at either end and ride a full loop and end where you started. You don’t have to backtrack or walk out through the woods.”
Houin added that it is still pretty rough, but the more mountain bikers who access the trail the more the trail will be broken in to make it a great circuit in the area.
The best way to access the trail would be the public access site at Mill Pond Forest off of Rose Road. It is the hope that an address can be assigned for that area so residents can find it on the GPS a little easier.
There will be further development of more bike trails and walkable trails as well.
They ask that motorized all-terrain vehicles or four-wheelers stay on existing trails for those types of vehicles. The board will soon make a list of rules and put up signage that direct people to the proper areas for recreational activities. Parking areas are also being considered in a clearing near the access site.
An official opening day is tentatively planned for Memorial Day weekend. More information will be released soon.
Houin and Calhoun will soon start a fundraising campaign to gather funds for signage. If anyone would like to donate money toward signs, contact Houin or Calhoun. Donations toward any efforts for future projects at the Marshall County parks can be made by contacting board members. Board member information can be found on the Marshall County’s website.
