Note: The Trail was dedicated on August 27, 2005. Many thanks to all who helped make this wonderful trail become a reality!

Since the railroad abandoned the trestle bridge which crosses Little Lake Butte des Morts connecting the City of Menasha to the Town of Menasha individuals have dreamed of converting the bridge into a pedestrian pathway. The dream began to take form when the Department of Natural Resources (WI-DNR) agreed to negotiate for the acquisition of the bridge and railroad right-of-way. This process began over five years ago and was finalized during the Fall 2004. In correlation to the acquisition of the bridge and right-of-way the city and town entered into an agreement to apply for grant funding to design and build the pedestrian pathway. The Department of Transportation (WI-DOT) agreed to fund 80% of the existing projected cost in 1999 while the two municipalities were responsible for the remaining 20%. These funds have been set aside and transferred from year to year to allow for the time lapse to acquire the bridge and right-of-way. Needless to say the funding source did not increase as time went by but the cost to design and build the trail has.

Knowing that additional funds were needed the city and town has jointly applied for various federal, state and local grants to aid in the construction of the trestle trail. Recently, a $100,000 grant was awarded through the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau and a $200,000 WI-DNR Stewardship Grant was received. A Transportation Enhance Grant through WI-DOT was recently applied for and denied. The Trestle Trail Team continued to search for federal and states for the project.

To date, engineering and design work has been completed for phase one of the project. Phase one of the project includes 2 observation platforms, 2 fishing piers, 1 main center pavilion and the main trail structure. Phase one of the trail was let out to bid at the beginning of August 2004. On August 26, 2004 four official bids were received and opened with the low bid of $1.32 million from Janke Construction, Athens, WI. Engineering and design work for phase two (lift bridge across the Menasha Locks) work is presently being completed. The Trestle Trail Team has been meeting with the engineer to analyze bids, opportunities for cost reduction and any other factors that would contribute to the overall successful completion of this project.

Staff, until recently, was hopeful that this project could be completed via grants and public sources. The reality is for this project to move forward and be completed $500,000 needs to be raised in a very short time frame through private funding sources. The time sensitivity centers around the WI-DOT being carried forward throughout the previous five years and the fact that we need to award the bid to the lowest qualified bidder in a timely fashion per bid specifications.

The Town and City have approached Fox Cities Greenways about being the sponsoring group to solicit and raise the necessary funds. Fox Cities has agreed and understands the time frame. Therefore, it is vital that individuals from the community become involved in this project. Involvement includes giving a donation, volunteering to serve on the fundraising committee or writing proactive articles for the newspaper. If you share the vision of crossing Little Lake Butte des Morts that I have, I encourage you to get involved.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Kading (mkading@town-menasha.com)
920.720.7185

Linda Stoll, Director
Fox Cities Greenways, Inc.