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In this busy 21st Century world, more and more people are recognizing the value of simple outdoor pleasures, like taking a walk and enjoying nature's beauty. With this in mind, a group of committed Fairfielders has been working to make it easier for you to walk or bike in a peaceful setting in town--with a planned 17-mile loop trail that will completely encircle Fairfield and eventually link with trails to other towns as well.
Hundreds of people have already walked from B Street to Pleasant Plain Road along Reservoir Two. This was the first segment of the trail around Fairfield developed by the Jefferson County Trails Council (JCTC) and the Jefferson County Conservation Board (JCCB).
"I always had this thought about a loop trail around the City of Fairfield," says Ron Meyers, Chairman of JCCB. "We have parks and facilities in the outlining area of town and we could tie them all together. The trails in the parks are very popular and used by a lot of people, and there was a demand for more."
About a month ago, new fluorescent lime bicycle signs were posted on Highway I North and Pleasant Plain Road indicating the trails. I decided to bike around the four-mile northern part of the loop that is now complete.
I started out from Walton Road and cycled north, the lake on my right and cows grazing on my left. After a few minutes of woods I went uphill and downhill along cornfields. I crossed Pleasant Plain Road and a new bridge on Reservoir Two and entered some woods again. It was nice to be in the shade for a while.
Downhill, I passed some beautiful new homes, soybean fields, and Reservoir One. Then I rode north on B Street, then turned west and went all the way to Gear Street along the old railroad tracks. Along the way I saw several new park benches, four hawks, and a few walkers who did not mind the blazing afternoon sun.
It was a fun ride and not a difficult one. I had to cross Highway 1, but soon you will not have to. The Trails Council has applied for a grant to build a bridge to make the trail safer.
How did this wonderful idea come about? "The Jefferson County Trails Council, a completely voluntary organization, was formed three years ago," says Ron Blair, Vice Chairman of the organization. They joined the Jefferson County Conservation Board, which was working on a trail to connect Fairfield to Libertyville along the abandoned railway right of way. Part of this trail is the Cedar View section that runs from Jefferson County Park to the Cedar Creek.
JCTC is currently applying for an additional grant to build a 380-foot bridge over Cedar Creek, which will connect Jefferson County Park with Cedar Creek Timber. Construction of the bridge is scheduled for next summer.
Another completed piece of the Loop Trail runs from Lamson Woods to Glasgow Road. This area was completed during the Iowa Department of Transportation's (IDOT) wetland-restoration program with the help of the Neff family, who owns the land.
"It's unbelievable how much help we have gotten," says Blair. "All the easements have been donated by the landowners. People want to be part of this community-wide project. Also, we couldn't do this without the help of all the local organizations."
JCTC volunteers have built a shelter along the Cedar View Trail, cleared brush, and sowed native grasses and wildflowers. Individuals, businesses, and industries have also donated funds toward the development of the trail.
"We have accomplished a lot more in a lot less time than I ever thought would be possible," says Meyers.
And this is just the beginning. During the next phase of development the Trails Council will connect Chautauqua Park with the wetland trail and Lamson Woods State Preserve. "This is going to be one of the most beautiful sections of the whole system," says Blair.
After that segment is done, they will connect Chautauqua Park with Walton Lake, for which the Council is planning to raise money locally.
The Trails Council does not have to tackle all the work themselves. IDOT has committed to building a five-mile section of the trail west and south of town. This segment will run from Whitham Woods Park to Mint Blvd. along the Highway 34 bypass that IDOT plans to construct in 2003. The trail will also connect to Jefferson County Park and Cedar View Trail. This will be a considerable contribution, almost one third of the whole loop. By the time that project is done, JCTC is planning to finish the rest of the trail, making the loop complete.
And plans do not stop at city limits. The Fairfield Loop Trail is a part of the Jefferson County Trail System that will connect Fairfield to other communities. Spokes will reach out from Fairfield to other local towns, the first one going to Libertyville. Then the trail will continue as far as Eldon and eventually connect to the state's backbone system. In the future the Council hopes to create links to Douds, the Villages of Van Buren, Lake Darling, Washington, and Mount Pleasant. The trail will travel through wetland, prairie, and forested areas and connect to historical sights such as the American Gothic House in Eldon.
By using the Loop Trail and its spokes, many people will be able to safely get to work or school by bike. Since two-thirds of Fairfield workers travel less than ten minutes to work, using the bicycle trails would provide a healthy and environmentally friendly alternative. Traffic would decrease and parking would not be a problem.
"The trail will be good for health, for safety, for recreation," says Blair. The trails are surfaced with lime chips, which is comfortable for bikers, too, and they are ten feet wide so there's ample room for bicycles, hikers, and even wheelchairs to easily pass each other.
Blair also expects an increase in tourism. Visitors who come from other areas to ride the trails will create more business for local restaurants and hotels.
"The nicest thing about the trail is that you don't have to have special clothes, you don't have to join anything," says Meyers. "Just go out and do some good and healthy exercise in a peaceful and tranquil environment. It's going to be around for a long time and it's going to benefit a lot of people."
