Dear editor:

As the long-awaited riverfront trail extension is becoming a reality, I feel it is appropriate to look back and thank that many people who have played a part in making this a reality.

It all started with a vision, and for that we can thank the Niles Parks Board. With Autumn Carey as the chair, both past and present members have consistently prioritized this project to pursue with their limited funds.

Our city planner, Juan Ganum, was instrumental in working with the board to apply for grants, year after year, until we finally won approval from the state. He then worked through the necessary easements and other issues to bring the vision into focus. Our city engineers office, with Neil Coulston and Joe Ray leading the way, were instrumental in putting together the engineering details and soliciting bids. We ran into roadblock after roadblock, and if it were not for their amazing relentless pursuit of the project, we would not be building the trail right now.

The latest roadblock, which nearly sank the project, was the discovery of an endangered plant along the proposed route of the trail. Thanks here goes to Wendy Jones at Fernwood for volunteering to survey the area for the trillium and helping to develop a mitigation plan, and to Sharon Tyler’s office for stepping in when we were at an impasse with the state over how to handle the plants.

And last, but certainly not least, we need to remember Derek Lamson, who for his Eagle Scout project cleared a large part of what will now become part of the trail. His work allowed the city and its citizens to start to envision and use the trail before we could begin construction in earnest, and probably saved the city thousands of dollars.

This summer, as we all begin to enjoy this trail, please take a moment to think about all of those mentioned, and many others who played a part to make it possible.

Dan VandenHeede
Niles