DOOR COUNTY (NBC 26) — Out of cars, and into nature.
It's a message that Door County Trails member Craig Charles lives by, as the non-profit group takes on their biggest project alongside various villages and towns: a 16-mile path from Egg Harbor to Sister Bay.
"We aren't in the planning stages yet," Charles said about the proposed trail. "But, we're on our way."
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Last Tuesday, the Town of Gibraltar announced that it has been awarded a $4,740,640 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for about 25% of the system, connecting Fish Creek and Ephraim.
It will be a multi-use trail, providing opportunities for various uses outside of walking and biking.
The project would go through Fish Creek Park, Gibraltar Schools and Peninsula State Park.
"This is one step in the right direction," Charles said on what the trail would mean to Door County. "People can literally leave Fish Creek, park their car, visit all the great amenities we have here in Fish Creek and not have to get in their car again until they leave."
Town of Gibraltar Administrator Travis Thyssen says the trail will also help reduce traffic congestion, and can be used for various events.
"We have century rides, marathons and half-marathons, 100-mile bike rides," Thyssen said. "If we can put those people off the road and onto our trail system too, that's only going to make it that much safer and enjoyable for everybody."
A community that Door County Trails continues to serve.
"Connecting communities is about connecting people," Charles said. "Ultimately, trails aren't built by machinery. They're built by people."
Thyssen says the grant will be available for four years. He expects a plan for construction to be created during that time, which includes designing the path, assigning people to the project and hiring construction firms.
