Over 100 cyclists, walkers and enthusiasts showed up for the ribbon cutting for the Southwind Rail-Trail Saturday afternoon in Riverside Park.
As people began to file in on their mode of transportation — everything from road and mountain bicycles to tricycles and recumbent bikes — Jay Kretzmeier opened the ceremonies.
“This is truly a joyous occasion,” he said.
He highlighted the timeline of the trail’s completion, starting with the Sunflower Rails to Trails Conservancy acquiring a grant, all the way to the clearing of the trail and its completion.
“What an absolute wonderful coalition and coming together of private funding,” Kretzmeier said.
The speakers for the event included Clark Cohen, a representative of the conservancy who has been instrumental in the logistics of the trail; Don Becker, who represented Iola City Council; Dick Works, representing the Allen County Commission; Sunny Shreeve, representing the Humboldt City Council; and Elizabeth Stewart from the Sunflower Foundation, another organization that played a key role in the completion of the trail.
“It’s about doing good,” Becker said. “People don’t appreciate things as much if it is given to them; they do appreciate it when it is earned.”
The numerous volunteers of the Southwind Rail-Trail sure earned it.
The trail’s construction and completion was finished almost a year to the day, unprecedented for a trail of its quality and magnitude.
Following the speakers, a ribbon was cut along the entrance of the trail. Cyclists and walkers — two cyclists had ridden down from Olathe for the event — made their way south along the trail following the ceremonies, to opening ceremonies of the Neosho River Park in Humboldt.
Ribbon cut on Southwind Rail-Trail
