Funds could keep Fremont’s trail system moving

By Don Bowen/Fremont Tribune
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008 - 10:37:18 am CDT

Members of the Fremont City Council will consider adding another piece of Fremont’s trails system when they meet tonight.

City council members will meet at 7 p.m. today in the second floor council chambers of the Fremont Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave. A study session for the meeting will begin at

6:45 p.m.

Fremont Parks and Recreation Department director John Schmitz is asking city council members for $10,000 in keno matching funds to start a trail around Johnson Lake next to Splash Station on the east side of the city.

“The Fremont Trails Committee has pinpointed Johnson Park and specifically Johnson Lake as an area in need of walking trails,” Schmitz said in a staff report addressed to Mayor “Skip” Edwards and city council members.

The keno funds would be matched by a $10,000 gift from the Nebraska Natural Resources Department and $5,000 allocated through the trails committee, Schmitz said in the report. He credits Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer Allan Hale with solidifying the NRD gift.

The initial piece of the trail around Johnson Lake will extend about 1,500 feet from the boat ramp to the parking lot at Splash Station.

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WAT
Aug 12, 2008 12:15 PM
It takes 25,000.00 to build a walking trail around that lil pond?? Who's pockets are getting fat from that??
like to walk
Aug 12, 2008 12:22 PM
I don't think you should call the 1/4 mile by the middle school and 1/2 mile by the airport "a trail system". Norfolk, Hastings, Columbus, Grand Island have miles and miles of trail "systems". Fremont has really dropped the ball on our trails, we are way behind other cities our size. Check out how many people walk that little pathetic 1/4 mile by the Middle School, it's amazing. At least Fremont has a Hockey rink, we are ahead in that area, to bad Mrs. Sidner wasn't still around, that kind hearted lady is someone that could get things done,
fremonter
Aug 12, 2008 1:39 PM
waste,waste,waste. typical fremont government.
Amy B
Aug 12, 2008 4:14 PM
Excellent use of keno money in my opinion and glad to see there is matching money from the NRD. We need to coninute building trails in this community. Easy to complain that it costs too much -- but nobody is getting rich at that amount -- do some research and you will see what it costs to do these kind of projects.

Clearly Fremonters need to get off the couch and out the door and anything that will help do that I support.

Hopefully they can also include a trail/sidewalk area down Johnson road as well -- lots of people trying to bike/walk there but no path.
Jake J
Aug 12, 2008 5:39 PM
i honestly laughed out loud when i read "fremonts trail system" i didnt know a couple stretchs of sidewalk on opposite sides of town qualified as a "trail system"
thought
Aug 12, 2008 5:51 PM
Just a thought? I don't disagree that Fremont is lacking in comparison to other Nebraska cities but DO you think those other cities started with a couple trails and then started to link them together??? You also have the state lakes and alot of the cities that you listed do not have that type of State Recreation Area that close!!!
jake
Aug 13, 2008 7:59 AM
i see more people on the road than on the "trails." what a wast of money. if you build it they wont use it. they still like riding in the street causing a problem for car's and truck's.
Ronald McDonald
Aug 13, 2008 9:01 AM
Can we get the trail system to go to Mcdonald's?
scoop I
Aug 13, 2008 11:19 AM
All kidding aside, I would like to see a nice square trail through fremont.Nye street has an excellent WIDE side walk.They could widen Linden's side walks and a couple others and make a nice square in the center of town that would be safer.You shouldn't have to go out of town for a nice walk. Many of linden's walks are so cracked they are hard to walk on at night. And people that park across the sidewalks should be ticketed automatically. A few tickets in the court report and that rude habit will hault.
Nancy
Aug 13, 2008 1:42 PM
Isn't it kind of defeating the purpose to have walking trails on the outer limits of town. How about a walking trail in town? Scoop has the right idea!! One should not have to waste gas to walk and be healthy!
Perfection
Aug 13, 2008 4:32 PM
The perfect walking trail for Fremonters would be one that winds around to all the fast food restaurants.........
Trails in Town
Aug 14, 2008 12:38 PM
Nancy...wouldn't walking trails in town be called sidewalks?
confused
Aug 14, 2008 3:28 PM
Some years ago the trail plan was to circle around Fremont, from Linden to the State Lakes, then along the Platte river and south Inglewood and Fremont up to Military Ave. What happened to this excellent plan? Why spend money for a trail around Johnson Pond for just a few feet of trail going nowhere?? Sounds like very poor planning for a trail system for the city.
scoop I
Aug 14, 2008 7:26 PM
I suggested a widened sidewalk like the ones on Nye Avenue. Widened walk ways that are smooth and not broken from tree roots and time.Possibly Nye to 19 or 20, then down to Clarkson, and down Linden Avenue in a safe square through town. Maybe with a few extra lights in the evening, and a detour to Mcdonalds and Zesto(just in case)
Momma
Aug 14, 2008 8:37 PM
The trail system has to start somewhere! Or there will never ever be one!
marianne
Aug 14, 2008 10:17 PM
I've lived in two communities with strong trail systems and they are wonderful -- but take time to make happen. They also need to start at ends of the city becuase in the middle there are more develped sidewalks, parks and streets. Johnson lake is a great place to start. There are already some key pieces on the west side of town so if we keep this moving -- especially with grant money -- than we will have a quality trail system in our community. It is an important option for families -- those here and those who want to move here.

BTW...when riding you bike -- trails or not...put on a helmet.
Confused - Really
Aug 14, 2008 10:35 PM
Really? That was the original plan - to have walking trails along the Platte River??????? How awesome! What happened to that plan?? Too bad the Sidner money (skating rink) couldn't have gone to a fantastic trail system in the Fremont area------that would be something that EVERYONE could use, not just a few ice skaters. Maybe someone else with money can step up to the plate and donate for a fantastic trail system? I agree, we don't need more money spent out by Johnson Lake for the few who live out there - let's continue with the State Lakes area trails..........
B
Aug 14, 2008 11:12 PM
I agree fremont is in need of some real trails and they have to start somewhere. However we are spending the money to put in trails and there are still many blocks directly connected to Bell Field Elementary that have no sidewalk so kids are forced to walk through the grass and some neighbors are pretty grumpy about that or they have to walk in the street. It would be nice if they did something about that.