Dedication of the All People's Trail at Mosquito Hill

Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, County Parks Department Staff, Mosquito Hill Nature Center volunteers, Friends of Mosquito Hill board members and members of the general public will officially dedicate the opening of the newly-constructed All People's Trail at Mosquito Hill Nature Center at 1 p.m. on June 11. The .6-mile paved trail is handicap accessible, with rest areas and interpretive signs that highlight the unique natural features of the nature center.

Following opening remarks by Tom Nelson and a ribbon cutting, visitors may enjoy light refreshments and guided tours of the new trail departing from the nature center's interpretive building. A limited number of motorized and non-motorized wheel chairs are available for use by those who require them.

"The trail was specifically designed to give access to parts of the nature center property that are not normally accessible to people with limited mobility or families with children in strollers," said Mike Hibbard, director of Mosquito Hill Nature Center. The trail encompasses several habitat types including forest edge, prairie planting and oxbow pond. It also includes a segment that leads to the center's butterfly house. The length, gentle slopes and abundant rest areas make the trail ideal for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers which has been well received by visitors and school groups.

The nearly $100,000 trail project was funded solely through generous donations from individuals, businesses, service organizations and through private grants. "The support of the community for this project was unbelievable, especially during these uncertain economic times," said Hibbard.

Mosquito Hill Nature Center is a 430 acre nature preserve owned and operated by Outagamie County, located at N3880 Rogers Road, 2 miles east of the city of New London off County Road S. The Nature Center's nearly eight mile trail system is open seven days per week from sunrise to sunset and the interpretive building is open Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. though 3 p.m.