Help the Erie Trail During National Trails Day

  
 
The first Saturday in June is National Trails Day, and what better way to celebrate the holiday than on the Erie Trail with the Prairie Trails Club? On June 1, join the club for a day of trail maintenance, a bike ride, geocaching, food, fun and entertainment as they hold a fundraiser and membership drive to support the construction and maintenance of the North Judson/Monterey Erie Trail.

Paul Byer of the Prairie Trails Club said the effort is being held to try to rustle up more club members to help maintain and care for the trail.

“We’re hoping to get more members to help participate in trail cleanup and taking care of the trail. Right now there’s just a handful of us that are trying to maintain all of the trail from North Judson to U.S. 35, and it’s extremely hard to do with just a handful of people,” said Byer.

The club is looking to extend the trail from U.S. 35 out to the Tippecanoe River State Park and they need money for upkeep and expansion. Byer emphasized that the trail does not receive any funding from local taxes; rather, he said the trail is funded through grants and fundraising.

“A lot of people are under the assumption that this is a government-funded trail and that their tax money is going to it and the government pays for it, and that’s not the case. It’s strictly through grants, fundraising, and that’s how the trail was established,” said Byer.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with trail maintenance, followed by a bike ride around 2 p.m. Byer said they will have an introduction to Geocaching, live entertainment and food as well.