City Kicks off 3rd Series of Trek the Trail Rides
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Mayor Tom Henry is announcing the kick-off of the third season of Trek the Trails – a popular series of free community bike rides along 68 miles of trail network. Trek the Trails, which runs from May through September, features a series of 22 Tuesday evening rides, four Saturday rides and a stargazing bike ride in October.
"Our trails have become the crown jewel of our local active transportation network," Mayor Tom Henry said. "These rides give our residents an excellent opportunity to see Fort Wayne in a way they haven't seen it before. It also provides a unique opportunity to meet other trail users, take part in a fun activity with friends and family and stay fit."
Fort Wayne has an award-winning trail system that has grown from 20 to 68 miles in six years and has been popular with walkers, runners and cyclists throughout the city.
The first Tuesday ride will take place on May 1, 2012 at 6 p.m. along the Salomon Farm Loop and Pufferbelly Trail. Participants will meet at the Salomon Farm parking lot, 817 W. Dupont Road. Immediately after the ride, a season kick-off Trail Mixer will be take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Salomon Farm barn. The Trail Mixer requires a suggested $10 donation to Fort Wayne Trails, Inc. Admission into the barn will include food, drinks, live music and dancing.
The guided evening tours – which begin at 6 p.m. every Tuesday, through Sept. 25 – will take bicyclists on scenic rides along the Fort Wayne Trails Network. Just as in previous years, each Tuesday ride is about 6 to 10 miles long. It is strongly suggested that participants wear helmets and bring along water for each ride. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. It is recommended that parents with young children pull them in a trailer or use a tag-along bicycle.
New this year, a few of the Rivergreenway rides will take cyclists across the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge and other rides will take them along a newly-opened section of the Towpath Trail, west of Engle Road.
The once-a-month Saturday rides will be on June 9, July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 9 and will run between 16 miles and 24 miles. Saturday rides, designed for more experienced cyclists, will begin promptly at 9 a.m.
The stargazing nighttime ride will be Tuesday, Oct. 2 and will begin at Foster Park, along the Rivergreenway. More details about this event will be released later this year.
If there is unsafe weather -- such as heavy rain, lightning or extreme heat -- the ride will be cancelled. A cancellation notice will be posted at www.FortWayneParks.org, on the Rivergreenway's page for News and Events.
This year, city officials are working with Fort Wayne Trails, Inc. to involve sponsors in each Trek the Trails ride. Summit City Bicycles and Fitness will sponsor the May 1st ride. Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Fort Wayne Outfitters & Bike Depot, the YMCA and Visit Fort Wayne will sponsor future trail rides.
The City is looking for additional sponsors. Any businesses or agencies interested in sponsoring rides should call 427-6228.
{List of Trek the Trails events is below.}
Tuesday Trek the Trail Rides – all begin at 6 p.m.
May 1, 2012 -- Salomon Farm Park & Pufferbelly Trail. Meet at the Salomon Farm parking lot at 817 W. Dupont Road by the trailhead kiosk. Ride is 6 to 8 miles.
May 8, 2012 -- Aboite Trails. Meet in the parking lot for Deer Ridge Elementary School at 1515 S. Scott Road. Ride is 6 to 8 miles.
May 15, 2012 -- Towpath Trail. Meet at the trailhead in Rockhill Park near 1400 Catalpa St., just east of the intersection of W. Jefferson Boulevard and Freeman Street. Ride is 8 miles.
May 22, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at IPFW, 2101 E. Coliseum Boulevard, in the parking lot on the east side of the Venderly Family pedestrian bridge. Ride is 8 miles.
May 29, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at the Foster Park trailhead parking lot near Pavilion #1. Foster Park is located at 3900 Old Mill Road. Ride is 9 miles.
Jun 5, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at the gravel parking lot on the south side of Fourth Street, near 250 E. Fourth Street. Ride is 8 miles.
June 12, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at the North River Road Trailhead, commonly known as the "boat launch" just west of Kreager Park, near 7300 N. River Road. Ride is 6 miles.
June 19, 2012 -- Aboite Trails – Indian Trails Park Meet at the back of Indian Trails Park, near 10300 Aboite Center Road. Ride is 8 miles.
June 26, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at the parking lot near the old swimming pool in Swinney Park West, near 2200 W. Jefferson Boulevard. Ride is 8 miles.
July 3, 2012 -- Towpath Trail. Meet at Rockhill Park at the trailhead parking lot near 1400 Catalpa Street. Ride is 10 miles.
July 10, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at the North River Road Trailhead, commonly known as the "boat launch" just west of Kreager Park. Ride is 8 miles.
July 17, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at IPFW, 2101 E. Coliseum Boulevard, in the parking lot on the east side of the St. Joseph River, near the bridge. Ride is 8 miles.
July 24, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at Lawton Park, in the gravel parking lot on the south side of Fourth Street – near 250 E. Fourth Street. Ride is 8 miles.
July 31, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at the trailhead parking lot in Foster Park at the end of the main park drive near Pavilion #1, near 3900 Old Mill Road. Ride is 8 miles.
August 7, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at Shoaff Park, 6401 St. Joe Road, in the parking lot near the Conklin Pavilion, on the south side of the park. Ride is 8 miles.
Aug. 14, 2012 -- Aboite Trails. Meet at Deer Ridge Elementary School, 1515 S. Scott Road, in the parking lot. Ride is 6 or 9 miles.
Aug. 21, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at Moser Park, 601 W. Main St, New Haven, in the trailhead parking lot near the baseball diamonds. Ride is 8 miles.
Aug. 28, 2012 -- Rivergreenway – Meet at Tillman Park, 7500 S. Hanna Street, in the parking lot near the softball diamonds. Ride is 8 miles.
September 4, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet at Lawton Park, at the gravel parking lot on the south side of Fourth Street near 250 E. Fourth St. Ride is 8 miles.
September 11, 2012 – Rivergreenway. Meet in Johnny Appleseed Park, near Coliseum Boulevard, by the tank. Ride is 8 miles.
September 18, 2012 -- Aboite Trails. Meet at the very back of Indian Trails Park, 10300 Aboite Center Road. Ride is 8 miles.
September 25, 2012 -- Towpath Trail. Meet at the trailhead in Rockhill Park, 1400 Catalpa St., just east of W. Jefferson Boulevard and Freeman Street. Ride is 10 miles.
*October 2, 2012 -- Stargazing Ride. Start time to be announced later. Meet at Foster Park, 3900 Old Mill Road, at the trailhead parking lot, near Pavilion #1. Ride is 8 miles.
Saturday Long Trail Rides – all begin at 9 a.m.
June 9, 2012 – Starts at Indian Trails Park, 10300 Aboite Center Road. Ride is 16 miles.
July 14, 2012 – Starts at Moser Park, 601 W. Main Street, New Haven. Ride is 18 miles.
August 11, 2012 – Starts at Rockhill Park, 1400 Catalpa Street. Ride is 22 miles.
September 8, 2012 – Starts at Tillman Park, 7500 S. Hanna Street. Ride is 24 miles.