Spurred on by an $80,000 challenge grant, The Great Headwaters Trails is hoping the public will step forward to help complete the Conover-Phelps biking and hiking pathway. The group is hoping to raise the money to finish the 1.9 miles of trail that will connect the two Vilas county communities.
Coordinator of the trail’s Homestretch Campaign, Jeff Currie, discusses the large challenge grant...
"We are close to completing the Conover-Phelps trail this year, and we are very grateful that Jennifer and Marty Flanagan have provided an $80,000 fund to match donations to complete funding for that dollar for dollar...."
The goal for the Homestretch Campaign is $200,000. Currie says over the last four years, steady progress has been made developing the 10.6 mile trail. The last segment will run along parts of county roads "K" and "E" into downtown Phelps.
He says besides healthy recreation, the trail brings dollars to each community...
"...bringing the trail into town, giving people a chance to access the trail from downtown Phelps or from downtown Conover, those are definitely destination points that need to be connected...."
The trail crosses wetlands in the county forest and stretches of woodlands in the national forest as it heads from Conover to Phelps. The last section will connect in downtown Phelps, to a new trailhead north of Military Creek, and ending at a trailhead in Lakefront Pines Park at the eastern tip of North Twin Lake.
He says to donate or get more information go to the Great Headwaters Trails website.
