To update you on the latest news on the River Bend Trail of Merrill:
We recently purchased from Wisconsin Public Service a 2 acre parcel which will serve as a Rotary Park Trailhead and a large metal building to be refurbished just east of the Center Avenue Bridge. Also purchased was 100 x 1500 feet of river frontage from the Rotary Park area east to the Semco property for the trail.
Further to the east sits the former Anson-Gilkey property, 13 acres of which were donated by the D & L owners to the River District Development Foundation. This property has had demolition in progress since last year. The River Bend Trail will continue through this property from Kyes to Cooper Streets.
A trail feasibility study is presently being completed by Clark-Dietz Engineering to ascertain the problems, possibilities and priorities on all these newly acquired properties for future trail development going east from the Center Avenue Bridge.
Going to the west, Merrill Sand and Gravel recently received the bid to continue building the trail from Genesee Street west across State Street up to Highway 64 at the Wisconsin River Bridge near Cottage Street. That project will be initiated by July.
Hopefully the unfinished trail area from the Prairie River Nicklaus Family Bridge to the Public Service Dam area behind the Cosmo will also be completed soon.
The Foundation is initiating a new fund drive to raise monies required to complete the trail and add amenities to the existing River Bend Trail.
Several committees have been working extremely hard to keep making progress in all areas of trail development and improvements. . To make a donation or to become involved as a volunteer contact the Merrill Chamber at 715-536-9474.
The trail is open for biking and walking now. You can access it from the south end of Park St. on the east side or from the south end of Polk St. on the west side. The Thrivent Way Trail is a scenic walking loop off the paved area of the trail. New brochures with a map are available at several locations in town or at the Chamber office. River Bend Trail t-shirts and hats are for sale at Johnson Gifts, 1st St. Coffee Station, Fresh Boutique and at the Chamber Office.
View construction progress on the Photos page.