FLATS hosts ride/walk

The Forest Lake Area Trail System hosted a noncompetitive moonlight ride/walk last Saturday that raised $379 in additional funding for the 4-mile trail connecting downtown Kirksville to Thousand Hills State Park. The trail received a $100,000 grant in March. Both routes began and ended at the Kirksville YMCA and used trails and roads.

Event Director Kevin Baiotto said that although it rained the morning of the event and the cold weather detracted some participants, he was pleased with the amount of people who showed up. When the event ended, the thermometer showed 44 degrees, he said.

We had a pretty good turnout considering the weather I would say," Baiotto said. "A lot of the participants are interested in biking and walking and that kind of stuff, so it was something to give them a way to contribute [to the trail] and have a little fun at the same time."

The bike ride covered a distance of approximately 6 miles and cost between $24 and $27 said Amanda Powell, who coordinated registration for the event. The walk was 2 miles and cost between $14 and $16. The costs were lower for those who pre-registered.

Baiotto said the event was a success despite not raising a significant amount of money.

Royce Kallerud, FLATS Steering committee and English professor at Truman, said 75 participants signed up for the event. Baiotto said 31 participants biked and 26 walked.

Dan Martin, director of the student wellness center at A.T. Still University and a member of the FLATS Steering Committee, said he appreciated the volunteer work of approximately 20 Alpha Sigma Gamma members, who were recruited by service chair Caitlin McGraff, to direct riders and walkers on the course and provide childcare. A few employees from the Bike Co-op were present to install lights on the front and rear of bikes.

"[McGraff] was their point person. She came to multiple meetings and was out there chasing around trying to find [volunteers]. She said ‘How many?'… and they all showed up."

Martin said he was prepared for more people at the event and that he hopes to attract more participants in a future event. Although fewer participants showed up than expected, Martin said the event helped raise awareness among Kirksville residents for the trail. He said the event's efforts to raise money for the trail reflect some of the attitudes of people in Kirksville who want to become more active.

"I see people becoming more conscious of getting activity in their life and they're prioritizing their health a little bit more," Martin said.

Kallerud said FLATS has done other fundraisers in the past and plans to continue future fundraisers, including a similar moonlight ride/walk event next year, and a concert and a half-marathon in the fall. He said he is looking at an artist who has performed in Kirksville before but did not want to release the performer's name.

FLATS was granted $100,000 through a Recreational Trail Program grant by the state of Missouri for a section of the trail in Thousand Hills State Park in March. Kallerud said the project will also be funded by additional in-kind and cash donations. Some additional RTP grants might be announce later in the month.

Kallerud said he expects a trail to be completed between downtown Kirksville and Thousand Hills State Park between three and five years from now.

"There are so many variables with funding, design and planning," Kallerud said. "I think we would be doing very well if a full trail were in place in three years. I tend to think more along the lines if things fall together, a slightly longer time frame. There are so many variables that those predictions are hard to make."