THAT’S A WRAP

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May 31, 2013 - 12:00 AM

Southwind rail trail nears finish

For three serious-minded men, Don Burns, David Toland, and Pat Haire were positively giddy as they stood on the Southwind Trail south of town.
In only a year after they began breaking trail, the seven-mile stretch from Iola to Humboldt is all but finished.
It was on June 1, 2012, that a group of volunteers began working to clear the trail. Toland said it has been a “combination of a motivated group of volunteers and the pressure of grants that had a 12-month limit,” that kept the work on track.
But, as Burns put it simply, “we just wanted to get it done.” The others nodded in agreement.
“There’s your quote,” Toland replied.
The ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the extension of the rail trail is at 2 p.m. next Saturday, and will take place where the Prairie Spirit Trail and the Southwind Trail meet at Riverside Park. The trail’s southernmost terminal is just east of B&W Trailer Hitches in Humboldt.
It hasn’t been easy getting to the finish, however.

TRAIL MANAGER Dave Fontaine was busy during the time of the interview, working to get bollards into position at the points where the trail intersected public roads.
He, along with several other volunteers, saw the potential in the trail when they began clearing out the brush and debris — with the help of Joe Works’ equipment from B&W Trailer Hitches.
“It was more or less realizing the potential at that point,” Haire said.
He and Burns said they knew when they finished the first two miles of the clearing, the trail was going to see fruition. They could see “the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Most people they conferred with said a trail of Southwind’s magnitude would take two to three years to complete. While Toland said the first email regarding the trail was sent in 2008, the physical labor will be finished one year to the day.
“This is a case study for building a first-class trail with minimal resources,” Toland said.
Haire said he has run on the Flint Hills Nature Trail in the past. He described the different sections as “chapters” that described the efforts of the volunteers involved. Some sections were clean and orderly, while others were cluttered and difficult to maneuver.
He said they hope the Southwind Trail will have its own unique chaper.
“Out chapter will read as success and/or quality, maximizing the potential in the trail,” Haire said. “More quality per mile.”

BURNS SAID they have seen their ups and downs when working on the sections. Clearing brush in the summer heat took its toll on the volunteers.
“We were really looking forward to B&B Cafe at the end of those days,” Burns laughed.
The first day they cleared Elm Creek Bridge, which all three described as their most difficult task, it was 17 degrees as a high temperature.
“We had a ball,” Burns said.
And now that things are finished, all of the volunteers can breathe a sigh of relief.
“I’m so damn proud of this trail,” Burns said.
“It means a lot to me,” Haire said. “At this time in my life, it’s an extraordinary way to maximize the time I have.”
The three men walked along the trail and reflected on the work they had finished, along with the help of the numerous volunteers. They examined the surface of the trail, kicking areas that seemed to need attention.

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