Ribbon cutting Thursday for Evans Preserve singletrack trail portion of Prairie Rock Trails project

MASON CITY — The grand opening and ribbon cutting for an extensive singletrack network of Mason City’s new bike trail program will take place Thursday morning.

Mayor Bill Schickel says the singletrack trail located at Evans Preserve is one of many as part of the Prairie Rock Trails Destination Iowa project.   “This is one of five singletrack trails that we are building in Mason City. This actually is the fifth. We have the Riverhawk trail down just south of the Winnebago by the Mason City High School and others. The singletrack trails really are the gold standard of the fast-growing sport of mountain biking.”

Schickel says he’s enjoyed learning more about the sport of mountain biking.  “I have more recently learned about this since we have made this initiative to become really a destination for outdoor recreation. As I learn about it, it’s just fascinating the involvement by young people, the enthusiasm of the community. It’s just really been something to behold.”

Schickel says when completed, the system links more than 20 miles of trails and 600 acres of parks, which will include the bike park at the 12th Street Northeast entrance to the Lime Creek Conservation Area and the Mason City Riverwalk, with both of those projects opening next spring.  “It is a sport and something for all ages, but the other thing is, it’s for people in all walks of life in that many of our trails are paved, we have three new paved trails in Mason City, so we’re trying to make sure that we address the needs of our entire community and those who are visiting our community.”

The bike trails project is made possible in part by a $4.5 million Destination Iowa grant. The event takes place at 10:00 AM on Birch Drive between Kentucky and Illinois Avenues, just east of the railroad tracks.

Schickel made his comments during the “Ask the Mayor” podcast that was published earlier today, you can find by clicking here.