BLADENSBURG — A community effort has brought about a hiking-bike trail on East Knox School District property at the elementary school in Bladensburg. The half-mile, 5-foot-wide concrete path winds around ball fields and edges onto a slice of property donated by adjacent land owner Gaylord Rine.
The project was started by the Bladensburg Sertoma Club, which saw the need for an exercise path for community members so they could safely walk and bike off of public roads. Sertoma President Steve Gallwitz said the planning for the path started two years ago. Money to build the project came from The Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County, the Knox County Park District and The Energy Cooperative.
The path has been open a month. At a brief dedication ceremony Saturday at noon, John Marschhausen, East Knox school superintendent, said the community came together to accomplish the project. An added benefit is to the East Knox school system; a fitness program for teachers will be held, and that can lower health insurance costs.
