- A nature trail for pleasure walkers, joggers, hikers & bird-watchers. Accessible for baby strollers, motorized scooters and wheelchairs. The trail is a photographer's paradise, from the Mill Pond through to the woodlands and the West Perth Wetlands.
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Our first ever event of the WPTNT took place on Sunday, September 30, 2001. The following poster that was produced and prominently displayed throughout West Perth as well as being distributed to all of the public schools, that service the community, resulted in a great awareness of the day.
The event was organized by Patty Kehl, Publicity, Promotion and Fundraising chairperson.
Information for preplanning the event came from Kerry Price of Heart Health Perth, the major provider of funds for the event.
See some photos taken of the day
The following newspaper article appeared in The Mitchell Advocate on Wednesday, October 3, 2001
By Mardy Bacigalupo
Mitchell's first-ever Hike It or Bike It, held on Sunday (Sept. 30) by the West Perth Thames Nature Trail and Wetlands committee was a huge success judging by the amazing turnout, the beautiful weather and the seemingly choreographed show from the migrating geese and ducks.
Patty Kehl, Chair of Publicity, Promotion and Fundraising for the committee says approximately 30 volunteers helped to make the day a success for the more than 300 participants, who explored the trail on their bikes, scooters, strollers, wagons and in their sneakers.
"We had an amazing turnout for our first trail event," Kehl said. "At the bridge station (behind Parmalat), 260 participants passed through and not everyone did the whole trail, so we think there were over 300 (who came out on Sunday)."
Although with a little help it was possible to cross Whirl Creek, Kehl says the need for a bridge down there is real. Stations were set up along the trail, from Francis Street (near the Medical Centre) all the way up to the wetlands, offering information about the migration on the trail, habitat, fitness, plants, bugs, fungi, fish and the woodlands.
"I heard stories from volunteers at the south end who said most people didn't know we had anything like this (in Mitchell), some said they drive miles to go hiking," Kehl said. "Approximately 100 people made it all the way to the wetlands."
Many children were on the trail on Sunday, learning plenty and having adventures of their own. Jessie Rupert, 9, of Mitchell says she and her friend Jerry Lindeman, 11, also of Mitchell had fun, especially when they accidentally went down the wrong trail.
Macintosh apples were the popular heart healthy snack for the afternoon, and were available at each of the stations along the way.
"We bought two bushels of apples (which contain approximately 150 apples each) for the day, and at the end there were only 20 apples left," Kehl explained.
There were about a dozen youth who helped out at the stations, a way of earning a few of their necessary volunteer hours for school, and Kehl says the day would not have been possible without the hard work of Bert Vorstenbosch, John Drummond and Ted Eglinton. Many Mitchell area kids were looking forward to having their bikes engraved by West Perth OPP, but unfortunately they got very busy in the afternoon and were unable to come down to Lions Park.
"Some of the kids were a bit disappointed," Kehl said.
When the trail officially opens next year there will be an event of this kind to celebrate, however Kehl is not sure if Heart Health Perth will attend. She says if they don't, the committee will plan a similar event of their own.
"The trail is for the community and they seem to love it," she said. "It encompasses all ages from babies in bike trailers and strollers to wheelchairs and scooters. Everyone can participate."
Aside from a few kinks being ironed out before next year's event, and getting a bridge in place at Whirl Creek, Kehl hopes to make this an annual affair.
The only casualties for the day were a missing scooter wheel and a black nylon jacket, both of which have been found and can be claimed by calling 348-9963.
P.S. The missing scooter wheel was claimed 2 days after the article appeared.
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