Oak Leaf Trail extension to get ribbon-cutting

If you haven't already, be sure to check out the newest portion of the Oak Leaf Trail - - it is a very, very nice walk in the woods. The new extension takes you off busy 68th Street to some extent (as I noted in an earlier posts here, here and here).

Above: A shot of the new portion of the trail as it empties into the parking area on 68th Street.

From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

Ceremony to mark Oak Leaf Trail extension

Franklin portion takes path off busy road

By ANNYSA JOHNSON
anjohnson@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Oct. 19, 2006

Franklin - Bikers and birders already have found it, but the newest leg of the Oak Leaf Trail will be christened by Milwaukee County and Franklin officials with a ribbon cutting early Saturday.

The 2.1-mile Root River Trail Extension picks up the existing Oak Leaf Trail at W. Drexel Ave., winds north along the Root River, crosses Rawson Ave. and continues to Anderson Lake and the trailhead on S. 68th St. near W. Loomis Road, according to the county.

The $1 million project was a collaboration of Milwaukee County, the City of Franklin and a local non-profit group known as JOLT, for Joining the Oak Leaf Trail. One of the most significant developments, supporters said, is that it moves the trail off busy S. 68th St.

"Honestly, this is one of my favorite segments of the trail," said Milwaukee County trails coordinator Guy Smith, who called the scenery along the Root River "awesome."

"You really feel like you're out in the country," he said.

The extension brings the Oak Leaf Trail to 108 miles, Smith said. The trail snakes through about 16 of the 19 Milwaukee County communities, and about half of it is off-road and paved like the new part in Franklin, he said.

The project was funded by an $800,000 federal grant, with Milwaukee County and JOLT each kicking in $100,000, the county said. Owners of a Franklin quarry, Payne & Dolan, and Vulcan Materials Co. provided an easement for a portion of the trail not owned by Milwaukee County, and the City of Franklin provided two parking lots along the trail.

The ribbon cutting will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at the trailhead parking lot on W. Drexel Ave. between S. 60th and S. 66th streets.